Lands of Dr. Doom - Campaign Set

The Domains of
Doom

by Scott Davis
with Steven E. Schend

Editor's Acknowledgements &
Thanks

To Scott and Tony, for all the comments,
questions, and above all, a job well done
under the ever-present pressures of
" Deadline Doom."

To Craig Anderson, Bonnie Berryman, Gloria
Birulin, Tom Brevoort, Tom De Falco,
Mark Gruenwald, John Lewandowski, Joe
Sinnott, and the rest of the folks at Marvel
Entertainment for all their assistance and
c ri ticism .

To Karen Boomgarden, Peggy Cooper, Jeff
Grubb, Bruce Heard, Dennis Kauth, Rob
King, Dave Sutherland, Stephanie Tabat,
Jim Ward, and the rest of the TSR staff
who either worked on the product or
provided moral support towards its
completion.

And finally,
To St an Lee and Jack Kirby, for opening all our

eyes to the man in the iron mask 30 years
ago .

Design: Scott Davis Preface ................................. . .... 3
Editing and Development: Steven E. Schend Introduction .............. ....... . .. . . . . . . .... 4
Chapter 1: The Region ......................... 5
Art Coordinator: Peggy Cooper
Cover Art: Joe Sinnott Overview of the Lands ......... . ............... 5
Gypsies of the Balkans ........................ 6
Interior Art: Jerry Ordway (pencils), John Statema Valeria's Travel Tips ........... ... . ... ......... 7
(inks), and the Marvel Bullpen (additional)
Graphics Coordinator: Stephanie Tabat Van Dyne's Guide to Travel in Europe ............. 9
Chapter 2: Latveria ........................... 11
Cartographer: Dennis Kauth
Typography: Tracey Zamagne History .. . .... . ...... . . ..... . . .. . .. .. ...... 11
Government ................................ 12
Production: Paul Hanchette Locations of Interest ......................... 13
Citizens ................................... 14
TSR, Inc. c ====-- TSR Ltd. NPCs of Latveria ............................ 17
P.O. Box756 120 Church End, Chapter 3: Or. Doom .......................... 26
Lake Geneva History of Doom ............................. 26
Cherry Hinton
WI 53147 Cambridge CB1 3LB Doom : The Beginning ........... .. ......... 26
U.S.A. Doom : The Scholar ........................ 28
United• Kingdom Doom : The Villain .......................... 29
Doom: The Master ......................... 53
This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of
America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or Doom: The Exile ........................... 59
artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written Doom: The Avenging Son ................... 67
consent of TSR, Inc. and Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Random
House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights in Psychology of Doctor Doom ................... 69
the book trade for English language products of TSR, Inc. Distributed to Doctor Doom Game Statistics .................. 71
the book and hobby trade In the United Kingdom by TSR Ltd. Chapter 4: Symkaria .......................... 72
Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors. History .. . .... . . . . .. . . . ...... . . . .... . ... ... 73
The names of the characters used herein are fictitious and do not refer Government . .... . . .... . ........ . ..... ...... 73
to any persons living or dead. Any descriptions including similarities to Silver Sable International ...... ........... .... 74
persons living or dead are merely coincidental. MARVEL SUPER Locations of Interest . .... . ... . ... .......... .. 75
HEROES, MARVEL UNIVERSE, DR. DOOM and all Marvel characters Citizens ..................... ..... . ...... . . 76
and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of the Marvel NPCs of Symkaria ........... . .. ...... . .... . . 78
Entertainment Group, Inc. and are used with permission. Chapter 5: Transla ............................ 82
History ..................... ... ... . ........ 82
c.1992 Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Government ... .. . ........ . .... .... . ........ 83
Locations of Interest . . . . ..................... 83
MICRONAUTS is a property of MEGO CORP. All Rights Reserved. Citizens ........ . . .. ... . . . ... . ............. 86
NPCs of Transia ........... . . ... . .. .... . . . . . . 86
The TSR logo is a trademark owned by TSR, Inc. Chapter 6: Bibliographies ...................... 93
Doctor Doom/Latveria Bibliography ............. 93
Copyright c.1992 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in U.S.A. Silver Sable/Symkaria Bibliography ............. 95
Transia Bibliography ........... . . . . ... . . ..... 95
ISBN 1·56076-404-X Doctor Doom Chronology ..................... 95

2

Preliminary Acknowledgments hours of reading hundreds of comics for this project, it
I'd like to thank my wife, PJ, for all of her support and was a refreshing read and well produced overall. Doom 's
patience, not to mention her map drawing skill, complex character was portrayed perfectly, and the
throughout this project, Neil Wetzler and Tom Patrick for culmination to the long-standing storyline about his
their valuable help in obtaining as many Doctor Doom mother was resolved with taste and unexpected t ragedy.
appearances as they did for me, and to Steven Schend,
who ably led me through the sometime twisted and Other recommendations are the original, definitive Dr.
shadowed paths into the Domains of Doom. Doom appearances in the FANTASTIC FOUR comic
books by Lee and Kirby, still in reprints in the Marvel
When I started this project, Dr. Doom was just another Masterworks series, and the first eight issues of
Marvel megalomaniac and master villain with an iron ASTONISHING TALES, illustrated by late comics great,
mask, albeit one of the oldest villains in t he Marvel Wally Wood.
Universe. However, as time went on , and as t he pile of
Doom comics grew from one comic box to the next, a Another character that emerged as interesting as Dr.
definite character began to emerge, one of an Doom was the mercenary Silver Sable. She and her Wild
overwhelmingly proud man forever scarred by the unfair Pack have packed in a good amount of guest-starring
deaths of his mother and father at a young age. His thirst roles in the past few years, dropping mysterious hints
for revenge and desire to save his mother's soul drove about the identity of her father and her homeland
him to the brink of madness. These two causes were the throughout their adventures with Spider-Man. Marvel
foci of his young life until one further incident solidified Comics seems to agree that she and her allies have a
his role in the world of Marvel-his scarring at the wealth of stories waiting to be written, as she has a new
imagined hands of Reed Richards. His pat h was set from series debuting in 1992. Look for it!
then on as the Fantastic Four's greatest opponent.
Remember that the Lands of DOCTOR DOOM"' Boxed
Finding all of Doom's appearances presented a Set can be a starting point for your own majestic
formidable task, since he's been around since 1962, and adventures in the Marvel Universe. There is much
has menaced almost every major Marvel hero (and most unexplored territory in the lands of Latveria, Symkaria
of the minor ones as well!). I had invaluable help from the and Transia, just waiting for your characters to uncover!
two comic shops I frequent, finding such rare, expensive, Hidden bases in the Balbic Mountain range, supernatural
and essential comics as FANTASTIC FOUR Annual #2, menaces in the wilds of Transia, and the scientific and
the first published origin of Dr. Doom , to the cameos and magical might of Doctor Doom throughout his homeland
unadvertised issues, such as POWER PACK #53. If I of Latveria all await the heroes in your games! The
happened to miss some appearances, I apologize for the villainous Dr. Doom (of course) as well as the
oversight. We have managed to collect the good doctor's Dreadknight, the High Evolutionary, and Chthon have
significant appearances that have had major impacts on planned for your arrival and have their nefarious traps
the Marvel Universe up through 1991 , but there are just waiting for your characters....
always more stories hidden in the shadows (not to
mention the hundreds of pages of comic books piled in Do your heroes have the strength and intelligence to
my office). best these super powers on their own turf? Come to the
Domains of Doom and find out for yourselves!
In an unabashed plug for Marvel Comics, I'd suggest
reading the Triumph and Torment Graphic Novel featuring Scott Davis, January 1992
Dr. Strange and Dr. Doom ; in my humble opinion , this is
one of the best Dr. Doom stories since the Lee and Kirby
days. Buy it, borrow it, but definitely read it if you have
an interest in Victor Von Doom . After many long, late

3

So you would deign to know the secrets of Doom. Very If you think you know everything there is to know about
well, it is good that you would read of the majesty and
power of Doom; the rabble must always glean Dr. Doom and his life, think again! He has gained power
knowldege from their betters. Take care that you dare
not to use the knowledge enclosed in these pages and knowledge from some of the greatest sorcerers in
against our person. To do so would inv~ke_ the ~rath of
history to free his mother from the clutches of Mephisto.
Doom and such a thing should not be mv1ted lightly.
He has drifted for days, alone and isolated, in deep
Learn'well of Doom and his lands, for the world will
soon fall before them. space with no hope of rescue. He has, at separate times,

Dr. Victor Von Doom wielded the phenomenal powers of the Beyonder and the

The Domains of Doom await you between these two Silver Surfer, only to lose them again. He has ruled the
covers. This is the atlas and sourcebook for the three
small Balkan countries well known to reader of Marvel entire world twice, yet given up his conquest for lack of
Comics: Latveria, Gem of the Balkans and the true Land
of Doom ; Transia, resting place of the Elder God Chthon challenge.
and sometime-home to the High Evolutionary; and
Symkaria, Latveria's neighbor and home to Silver Sable Now, you'll be able to place the scheming Doctor in
International .
your own game campaign , the ultimate foe for your
This book is designed for two uses. For any current
MARVEL SUPER HEROES"' game campaigns, it players' heroes. In his lifetime, he has battled almost
provides a much needed look at European location~ and
more technical information than has ever been published everyone in the Marvel Universe, from Spider-Man to the
in one Marvel product! The Lands of DR. DOOM"'
Campaign set can also be used as a comic book . Avengers, from the X-Men to his most hated foes, Reed
reference text, providing a full chronological synopsis of
Dr. Doom's 30 year history and morel We've provided an Richards and the Fantastic Four. Nothing deters him
extensive bibliography of Doctor Doom's and Silver
Sable's appearances, as well as providing a listing of from his goal of world subservience, especially not a
comics with information on Transia and its troubled
natives. group of upstart heroes he has never met before!

In thirty years, the Master of Latveria has travelled f~r The three Balkan countries, while geographically
across the globe and beneath the seas, even conquering
the eddies and currents of the time stream in his quests small have ties to a s urprising amount of characters in
for knowledge and power. And yet, in all that time, there 1
has never been a definitive source that detailed all the
enigmas and mysteries that surrounded Victor Von Doom the Marvel Universe. Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch
like a shadowy cloak. Well, now the history of Doctor
Doom is revealed, and it is littered with many dangerous were born in Transia, as were Jessica Drew and Phillip
foes and even a few rare friends, advanced technology,
and a staggering amount of bases and locations from Masters, better known as the original Spider-Woman and
which Doom has struggled to gain power for himself.
the Puppet Master. The High Evolutionary made

Transia's Mount Wundagore his home for years before

becoming known to the heroes of the world. Other major

characters in this book include the beautiful leader of the

Wild Pack, Silver Sable, whose Silver Sable International

mercenary business is the major source of income for

her home country of Symkaria. Latveria, as well as

spawning one of the most powerful men the world has

ever known, also birthed Darkoth the Death Demon, the

Doomsman, and the Dreadknight.

The Domains of Doom grants the reader a passport

into the oft-mentioned but rarely detailed Balkan lands of

Europe. Its chapters detail each of the countries

individually, provide game notes on important natives of

the countries, and list full bibliographies of comic book

source materials used for the boxed set. Enjoy your

excursion into the realms of Doom and his neighbors, but

be careful-the idyllic Balkan countryside hides more

dangers than are found in America's superhero infested

cities ...

4

Overview of the Lands problems. Their isolationist policies indirectly aid them in
insulating their peoples from the chaotic changes in
The " Lands of DOClOR DOOM"' " is a generic title for modern Europe. Symkaria has become more wary in its
Marvel's most famous " postage stamp" countries of dealings with other countries since the assassination of the
Europe. They consist primarily of the three Balkan states of king's fiancee, which signalled a rift in Symkarian and
Latveria, Transia, and Symkaria. This area of the world is American relations. Despite that wariness, Symkaria's
filled with superstition and legends of mythic proportions, tourist policies and limited trade with the West makes it the
and deservedly so. Many of the people in these lands share most progressive of the countries of note.
the same cultural bases, and the tales of werewolves,
vampires, and nocturnal fiends roaming the hills are Each country has detailed information on its people,
prevalent in the region. Abutting all three Balkan states history, and politics in its own chapter further along in
covered herein is the country of Transylvania, with the this book. Unlike the United States and many European
castles of Count Dracula and the lycanthropic Count nations, these countries have very few major cities, their
Russoff still in place. Baron Karl Morda, a foe of Dr. larger settlements barely equivalent to a small U.S. town.
Strange, calls Transylvania his homeland and has his
castle fortress near the border of Transia. Latveria also Transia and Latveria, and Symkaria in a smaller sense,
borders on Hungary and it, along with Symkaria and have maintained the charming old-style architecture
Transia, shares a western border with Yugoslavia. indigenous to the region, with only slight modifications
for more modern technologies. Symkaria has a few small
The political and social turmoil of recent years in the towns and resorts that maintain the quaint early
region has hardly been noticed in Transia, Latveria, or European village look, as does a limited section of the
Symkaria, though each country has had its share of internal capitol city Aniana, for the purposes of promoting tourism
from the West.

HUNGARY AREA MAP

YUGOSLAVIA TRANSYLVANIA

A: Doomstadt eF
B: Aniana
C: East Transia ROMANIA
D: Mount Wundagore
E: Castle Russott TRANSIA
F: Castle Mordo

SCALE: 1" = 50 Miles

5

Their economies are primarily agrarian, especially In the other countries of Europe, the Gypsies are not
Latveria, and tend to be internally sufficient to support trusted due to their stereotypical thievery and
their own peoples. However, both Latveria and Symkaria
supplement their treasuries by respectively exporting uncleanliness and feared for their mastery of minor
Doom's technology or Silver Sable's mercenary services. magic. In most cases, these claims are founded in truth,
The money gained from such practices generally goes for the Gypsies make their way in life through
toward the governments to cover the costs normally sleight-of-hand tricks, tricking the townsfolk, and stealing
drawn from the peoples' pockets. Transia receives small
amounts of tourism due to its Old World European what they can.
society, but does not draw nor does it welcome the large Typically, they deal fairly with a new community for the
amounts of tourists that flock to Symkaria. Symkaria's
tourist trade is small compared to the rest of Europe, but first few encounters, using real money and trading items
it does attract many young people the world over for its equally. Once they decide to leave an area, however, the
ski resort, its mountains offering the best skiing outside last purchases they make are with counterfeit money and
bartered objects that are just junk concealed by minor
of the Alps. magic spells or carefully constructed mechanisms. Either
For more detailed information on each of the countries, way, the object falls apart only hours after the Gypsies
depart. Victor Von Doom was a master at this type of
refer to their chapters further in the Domains of Doom. crime, and was well-known for it throughout Europe in
his teenage years. He used magic to make a lump of
Gypsies of the Balkans mud appear as a gold statue and sold a potion that cured
a man's headache but made all his hair fall out. These
No one knows for sure from where the gypsy tribes are more extreme examples of the Gypsies' handiwork in
originated. Some say from the deserts of ancient Egypt,
where the word Gypsy is derived. Others insist on the Marvel Universe.
Pakistan or India for the original birthplace of the
European Gypsies. However, the Gypsies care not where The arrival of a band of Gypsies, while not always
they came or where they are going, only upon what is something to look forward to, is not always a hated event
happening to them now. The Balkan Gypsies are no either. They often have talents for healing that nobles of
different, save that their persecution and harsh treatment the area like to put to use. Each group of Gypsies has at
by the Baron Draasen of Latveria inadvertantly produced least one healer among them and, if the group is larger
one of the world's most powerful men, Victor Von Doom . than forty or so members, the healer usually has some
minor magics to augment his natural skills. Another
Wherever they originated, the Gypsies now make all of reason to welcome the Gypsies is for their skill with a
Europe their home. The Gypsies of the Balkan states forge. They are very adept at blacksmithing and many
roam from country to country, basically shunned and folk pay them adequately for this service.
avoided by all citizens, except in Latveria. Because of
Doom's origins, he has issued an official decree granting General Gypsy Stats
the Gypsies amnesty, giving them free reign to settle on F AS ERI p
TY GD TY GD TY TY TY
any public land for as long as necessary.
It is because of this decree that this particular band of Health: 32 Karma: 18

Gypsies stays in the general area of Latveria and Transia. Role-Playing Notes
In Latveria, they are even given special permission to
come and go as they want. Most citizens are restricted Gypsies live for the day at hand, reveling during the good
from leaving the country, but the Gypsy tribes are allowed
free passage over the Latverian border if they present the times and enduring hardships when necessary. They are
royal decree given to them from Doom.
boisterous, exuberant people, singing about anything

from a beautiful sunset to the tempestuous storm.

Because of centuries of persecution, Gypsies are initially

wary of outsiders, but will warm up to friendly people.

6

Typical Gypsy Healer his companions are especially irritating, the healer can
and will demand some sort of large monetary payment.
FASER I P
Valeria's Travel Tips
PR TY PR GD GD GD GD
As a youngster, my grandfather and I travelled
Health: 24 Karma: 30 extensively with our troupe throughout eastern Europe,
but we always seemed to return to the Balkan countries
Powers/Talents of Latveria, Transia and, to a lesser extent, Symkaria.
They have welcomed us, if not with open arms, then at
Minor Magic: Gypsy healers are generally capable of least not with open hostility. My grandfather has become
more sedate and settled in his older years, staying with
Typical rank healing, granting a patient 6 Health Victor to provide him with both friendship and stability in
his all but stable life. I've continued to roam the
points per spell to augment the natural healing countryside with my Gypsy brothers and sisters, and this
is how I found the current atmosphere and feelings in
processes. Under a healer's care, characters can each country in the region .

heal an additional 6 points per hour in addition to Latveria

their normal Endurance rank healing. Ah , beloved Latveria, our safe haven. Ever since Victor
came to rule, the land has been open to Gypsies by royal
Botany: Gypsy healers have Good knowledge of herbs decree. Before that however, I've heard tales of the
terrible Baron of Latveria, who terrorized our own tribe.
and plants and their medicinal properties. Thankfully, Victor now rules the land.

Role-Playing Notes Of all people in Latveria, only the Gypsies are allowed
Gypsy healers are generally gentle and compassionate free access to the borders, secure in the fact that we'll
men and women with a knowledge of magic that is used return. The rolling hills and quiet forests that call us back
to supplement their natural healing skills. They perform remind me of my youth, a time of innocence and dreams.
their duties within the tribes gladly, but for outsiders, they My innocence has long since been lost, but the
usually exact a fee for their services. The fee is usually countryside of Latveria remains the same, almost entirely
unspoiled by the curse of modern technology. The air
food or other practical items, but if the injured person or remains fresh and the rivers are unpolluted. Victor has
seen to that.

Victor has also seen many of the villages across
Latveria renamed after him, all done in deference to the
Master of the land. We Gypsies do not worry about what
a place is named. Does a name change provide more
food for us to eat or more shelters for us to live in? Words
are not as important to us as living people.

7

The Latverian people have a great love of their Transia
monarch and a great love of life. For small bits of
Transia is a forbidding country, shunned by most
smithing or a day's work, they are willing to share a meal travellers because of mysterious legends and stories
with us. They are generally a trusting sort, and their surrounding Wundagore Mountain. Even the usual
hospitality knows few boundaries. Take care, however; thrill-seeking tourist usually looks elsewhere for his
they are quick to trust, but if the trust is broken, they
challenges. Wundagore dominates most of the country,
become enemies for life. the legendary mountain always looming in the distance.
Recently, we have avoided the main city of Latveria
The Gypsies spend time in Transia because we are
because credible rumors have reached us that a more tolerated and because people trying to find us encounter
ruthless side of Victor has emerged of late. His two problems; the people of Transia don't say much to
frustrations against the outside world are being vented outsiders and are always loath to venture anywhere near
upon his people. I expected the passing years to mature Wundagore. Even we do not camp on the mountain if it
the headstrong man I had known as Victor Von Doom. It
seems that assumption was incorrect and reinforces my can possibly be avoided.
decision to stay away from my former love. We learned our lesson when , years ago, an angry mob

Symkaria chased us out of East Transia, thinking we had a part in
some mysterious fires in the area. Outpacing the mob
Symkaria has the most internationally accepted and fleeing toward the safety of the forests, we were
government of the three countries. Consequently, my forced to spend a night on the lower side of the
people are less accepted here than in the other Balkan mountain. Strange things happened to us. Werner Von
Doom, our healer, fell ill and couldn't be awakened for
states. We're not reviled and hunted down; we simply days. Cooking fires in our camp flared for no apparent
have to keep a lower profile to keep the central reason. The pack animals refused to move any further up
government content that we aren't ruining their economy. the mountain and many of our more accomplished
mystics fell ill. A few children disappeared for a number
King Stefan has, in the past, been generally of hours, but returned safely to camp with ridiculous
sympathetic to us but a highly-placed government stories about a cow-woman who fed them cookies.
agency, headed by that cold fish, Silver Sable, hounds us Finally, after a long and terrifying night, we were able to
at every opportunity. They believe that we don't work for escape our pursuers without detection, but we've never
what we have and persecute us for it. When this starts
happening, we clear out of Symkaria, having no desire to approached the mountain again.
face either the soldiers or Sable's mercenaries. We should have listened to the villagers in East

However, since the death of his fiancee, King Stefan Transia, at the base of Wundagore Mountain. Their
has started cracking down on crime within the country, legends tell of many nights where strange lights would
which, unfortunately, includes some less-than-honest
Gypsies. We must be careful where we tread these days surround the peak of the mountain and there are rumors
of armored knights on flying steeds defending the
and be sure not to upset the Symkarian officials at the
present time. mountain from all who dare get close. The villagers
speak of a night in more recent times when the entire
Tourists and business people should have no problems mountain exploded and a gleaming shard of silver shot
visiting the country. It is the most modern of all three out into the darkness of the sky. Before that, the
countries, with current luxuries such as television and mountain had a reputation of being haunted, but now, no
wireless telephones. Aniana is the most modern city in one in command of their senses goes beyond the
the country and I've been told that this is the closest I'll outskirts of the village toward the cursed mountain.
ever get to seeing the United States. Symkaria's
summers are pleasant and the winters are hard,
conditions with which my people are more than familiar.

8

Van Dyne'sGuide to Travel In Weather &Clothing : Due to its high elevations and
Europe - Excerpts mountains, Latveria has cold winters and mild
summers. Always have an overcoat and hat with
Latveria you in the spring and fall, for weather is subject to
change suddenly and without warning.
Population: 500,000 (This is an approximation since the
government of Latveria hasn't allowed an outside Tipping: Service fees have been worked into all prices.
census to estimate the population in over 20 years.) Airports: The only airport for the country, Doomsport lies

Type of Government: Dictatorship (Doom prefers to on the southern outskirts of Doomstadt. It only
label this " an enforced monarchy.") maintains two runways with a skeleton crew on

Languages: German , Hungarian, Latverian (local hand, so flights into and out of Doomsport are quite
dialect, derivative of Hungarian), Romany limited.

Ethnic Groups: Mixed European Stock, Gypsy What To See: Latveria has some beautiful natural
Major Business Centers: None wonders to visit as well as ancient ruined castles
that tourists are allowed to visit under strict guard.
Currency: Latverian Franc No cameras are allowed except when the
Public Holidays: Doom 's Day, Christmas, New Year government sets up an all-too-infrequent goodwill
tour-guests are shown the city of Doomstadt in full
(Note that Doom 's Day is an eclectic holiday, celebration and are allowed limited tours of
celebrated whenever Doom declares it. The people surrounding farms and Castle Doom for photo
seem to enjoy these impromptu holidays, but then opportunities.
again , Doom commands them to be so.)

Traveller's Info
Entry Requirement: An up-to-date passport is required,

as well as an invitation from Doom if one is visiting
Doomstadt. Many governments require that you
register with them if you are planning to visit
Latveria. Check with local authorities before
finalizing travel arrangements.
Working Requirements: Royal work permits are
required for all foreigners seeking employment in
Latveria. These permits are seldom given and the
potential employee is urged by many to look
elsewhere for safe employment. Those who apply
and are accepted are rarely allowed to resign their
positions later.
Vaccinations Required: None
Health Tips: Drinking water is clean and safe. Bring your
own first aid kit as most of the public facilities in
Latveria are below current technological and
medicinal standards. Obey all the posted signs
throughout the country for your own safety, as
ignorance of Latveria's travel restrictions is an
excuse not programmed to work on Doctor Doom's
robot guards.

9

If you are lucky to have a human guide, not one sure to please even the most traveled tourist. The
of Doom's robot tour guides, he may be able to tell second is the ski resort of Balbic International
you some of the more interesting tales about the Heights. Situated on Mt. Balba, some of the best
country in addition to the basic history. Be sure to year-round skiing in Europe takes place there. From
visit Doom Falls in the northwest area of the the gentlest of slopes to trail-breaking powder
country, the largest and highest waterfall in the routes only accessible by helicopter, this resort
region; even the robots are programmed to tell the offers everything a skier would ever want in a
legendary history of the now serene natural wonder. vacation ski getaway.

Symkaria Transia

Population: 1,500,000 Population: 20,000
Type of Government: Parliamentary Type of Government: Constitutional
Languages: Symkarian, Hungarian; most of the Languages: German, Hungarian, Symkarian (local

professional community either has a rudimentary dialect derivative of Romanian)
understanding of or is fluent in English. Ethnic Groups: Germanic
Ethnic Groups: Mixed European, Gypsy Major Business Centers: None
Major Business Centers: Aniana Currency: Trans (local coin equal to the Belgian Franc)
Currency: Symkarian Franc Public Holidays: Christmas, New Year, Easter Week
Public Holidays: Chanukkah, Christmas, New Year,
Easter Week Traveller's Info
Entry Requirement: All that is needed for entry is a valid
Traveller's Info
Entry Requirement: A passport is required for entry into passport.
Working Requirements: Working Visas are only granted
Symkaria.
Working Requirements: Working Visas are freely for a period of 1 month, after which they are not
renewable.
granted for employment in Symkaria. Especially Vaccinations Required: None
common are temporary visas granted to Health Tips: Bring water purification kits and your own
mercenaries hired by Silver Sable International. medical supplies.
Vaccinations Required: None Weather & Clothing: Suitable clothing depends upon the
Health Tips: The drinking water is safe and the local season. Summers are sunny and pleasant, but
medical facilities have modern technology and winters tend to get very cold. Both autumn and
expertise to treat nearly all ailments. spring are mild.
Weather & Clothing: Winters are cold and harsh, the Tipping: Approximately 10% for all services rendered is
summers are mild. Bring a spare heavy coat for adequate.
both the spring and fall seasons. A irports: No major airports are present in Transia. There
Tipping: Restaurants, hotels and cabs already include a is a small landing strip for small air taxis from
service charge. The standard tip is 10% for small Symkaria's Tropulous Airport or Doomsport; this is
services rendered. also used by small VTOL craft such as the
Airports: Tropolus airport is situated in the eastern Avengers' quinjets or the Fantastic Four's Pogo
sector of the capital city of Aniana. Tropolus Plane, both teams having visited this country.
services all major airlines across the globe. What To See: Mountain climbers may be interested in
What To See: Symkaria offers 2 major tourist attractions. scaling Wundagore Mountain, but the government
The first is the downtown district of Aniana. This strongly advises against such activity.
area has many trendy night clubs and restaurants

10

Latveria, known primarily as the homeland of Dr. Victor History
Von Doom, is a seemingly-backward country of
insignificant size nestled among the greater nations of Latveria has traditionally been an agricultural society
Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Transylvania. Despite t~eir ruled by a king from the royal bloodline of Haasen and
ruler's exceptional technological prowess, the natives based in the castle at Haasenstadt. That 600 year old
have access to a relatively low level of technology in dynasty has been interrupted only once in Latverian
history, by a Gypsy's ascension to the royal throne in the
everyday life, equivalent to early 20th century America. 20th century.
This does not hamper the country's richness and
productivity-Latveria is totally self-sufficient both The first member of the Haasen dynasty emigrated
agriculturally and technologically, and crime and from the north during the late 14th century with a small
band of fighting men, composed primarily of his kinfolk,
unemployment are virtually nonexistent. Regardless of and wrested control of a small patch of land, now known
Doom's megalomania and infamy in the rest of the ~orld , as the capital city of Doomstadt, from local land barons
it cannot be argued that his people seem happy, their of Transylvania. After consolidating power for a few
quality of life is high-albeit archaic and behind the years, the Haasen regime recruited an army fr?m th.e
times--and Latveria is one of the most financially and oppressed laborers fleeing western Transylvania. With
politically stable countries worldwide. this large army at their backs, Rudolfo and Karl Haasen
conquered their foes and carved out a territory of their
own to rule, named "Latveria" in deference to their
original Latvian homeland. Rudolfo I took the throne as

LATVERIA N

A

A: Doomton G: Doomwood e~D~-~~L&GO:iRA~D~R~EGI1O.N~!e>/:i~.""

B: Doom Falls H: Klyne River ~

C: Draken River I: Doomsdale

D: Doomsvale J : Doomstadt

E: Boars· Vale K: Mount Vlctorum

F: Citadel of Doom L : Doomsburg SCALE: 1" = 10 Miles

11

King, his younger brother Karl being named the Baron of Exorbitant spending by King Vladimir Haasen and his
the southern Bolgorad region. These territories claimed two royal predecessors over the course of 50 years had
by the Haasen dynasty have, with little or no border driven the little country to economic ruins, paving the
way for an armored viper to work its way into power.
changes, comprised Latveria since it was established. These last three rulers had opened trade with the West,
Internal problems emerged after Baron Karl Haasen Ill attempting to modernize their technology and regain
their economic stability. The Crown Prince Rudolfo VI
died without a direct heir in 1447, leaving his lands and openly urged the pursuit of technological studies at
Werner Academy, and welcomed an armored stranger
title to his shiftless and arrogant nephew Vlad Draasen. with open arms into the Latverian court. Victor Von Doom
This later opened a rift between the Baronies and the came to them promising the advanced technology to
Crown of Latveria, the Draasens annexing more and bring Latveria to the heights of a world power. Latveria is
more titled land during the rule of a weak king and now one of the most powerful countries in the world
militarily due to Doom's technology, and this change only
granting those lands to their powerful allies, naming cost the Haasens their throne.
them Counts and Seneschals without a royal decree.
Numerous civil wars resulted, though the people always For more information on the ascension of Doom to the
set aside internal difficulties to defend their external throne, see Doom's personal history in Chapter 3.

borders from the Hungarians and the Turks. The wars Government
waged for over 90 years, but were brought to an end by
the Bolgorad Treaties of 1544. The Treaties firmly Latveria's government is officially described as an
reestablished the rule of the Haasen dynasty, but "enforced monarchy;" Doom's rule is, in fact, a
constitutional dictatorship. He commands the utter
maintained a number of the new baronies and counties, loyalty and love of his people, something few rulers can
including new lands for the Draasen family. claim. Both Reed Richards and Benjamin Grimm express
doubts about the sincerity of the people's loyalty to
King Rudolfo I and his family lived in a large, opulent Doom, having supported a successful coup against the
manor house for six generations in the hills west of the armored despot in recent years. Nevertheless, both
fledging settlement of Haasenstadt until the 16th century. members of the Fantastic Four concede that Latveria has
In 1588, the Latverian nobleman Count Sabbat aided never fared better than while Victor Von Doom has sat on
King Stefan I in financing a huge 110 room castle to be its throne.
built overlooking the now-capitol city of Haasenstadt; the
castle was finished quickly and the Haasen dynasty Dr. Doom, whevenever he isn't involved in plots of
world conquest or revenge against the hated Reed
entered its halls in 1590. A second castle was built by Richards and his family, directly governs his people by
order of the king (completed in 1593) and given to King personally receiving them in the throne room of Castle
Stefan's cousins, the house of Draasen. Doom . In a former historian's words, "he rules quickly.
For the most part he is fair ... always he is final." His
While many small Balkan states banded together to speed in dealing with these matters twice a week, the
form larger countries, the borders of Latveria changed schedule facilitated by his robot doubles, also reinforces
little over the years. The successive kings made highly the people's belief in and adherence to Doom's
beneficial treaties with all of their neighbors, preserving " laws" -veiled threats of unspeakable punishment for
their national identity while other similar countries were the wrong-doer which are enough to deter any from
annexed by larger, more powerful countries.
disrupting the peace and tranquility of the tiny country.
Since the 17th Century, Latveria has been a relatively
peaceful land of strong, vibrant people who love their
homeland and only wish to live in peace in their idyllic
country. The country's isolationist policies began in the
late 18th Century in response to broken treaties and
fouled trading policies with surrounding nations; Latveria
quickly became a self-sufficient and calm country,

remaining that way until the middle of the 20th Century.

12

In his dealings with the world on Latveria's behalf,
Doom involves himself in relatively few clandestine or
open dealings with other countries for his vaunted
technology or other resources. Much of his international
relations work is handled through Latveria's sole
embassy in New York City, carefully orchestrated by
Ambassador Gorzenko. The staff handles standard
ambassadorial works and a management team keeps
news of the Master's excesses and forays against the
superhuman community minimized in the world media.
This team also functions as an impromptu tourism
bureau for Latveria, advising Doom to open the country's
borders for extensive tourism (and thus, good public
relations) when world opinion sours against him.

Locations of Interest

Castle Doom

Doctor Doom makes his home in Castle Doom , a huge
110 room castle built in the 16th Century by the Latverian
nobleman Count Sabbat. The castle overlooks the
Latverian capital of Doomstadt (formerly Haasenstadt).
Taking occupancy soon after usurping the throne from
King Vladimir, Doom has dwelled in the castle ever since,
except for brief periods when the throne was usurped by
Prince Zorba and Kristoff.

The castle was rebuilt after Doom destroyed the
original to quell a rebellion led by the exiled Prince
Rudolpho. The general outer structure remained the
same, but current technology was integrated into the
castle's structure in accordance to Doom 's
specifications.

Among its many rooms, the castle contains Doom 's
living quarters, his many laboratories, his art museum ,
his robot factory, and the dungeons. Castle Doom has a
permanent staff of 350 to oversee the castle's upkeep
and Doom's personal needs. Only 50 staff members are
human, the rest being robots. Most of the humans are in
the research department, as Doom prefers to be
surrounded by his mechanical creations most of the time.

Further details on Castle Doom are shown on the
Castle Doom color map included within the Lands of Dr.
Doom Boxed Set.

13

Citadel of Doom the harsh side of Doom-he once decimated over
two-thirds of Doomstadt simply to destroy the Fantastic
The castle that became the Citadel of Doom has existed Four-and his swift reconstruction of the country after
in Latveria since the 16th century as part of the Draasen the horrors of Zorba's police state, the people revere
demesne. The castle was built in the Bolgorad region of Victor and many legends and superstitions grow daily
southeastern Latveria, given by the king to his cousins, about their armored ruler. Latverians live complacently
the house of Draasen , for recognition of that family's with only limited exposure to modern technology; rural
devotion to the throne. areas have tractors, indoor plumbing, and other
mechanical devices available to 1920's America, while
After taking the throne of Latveria, Doom conquered cities such as Doomstadt are able to provide and use
and destroyed the house of Draasen for their part in the technology equivalent to the post-World War 1940's in
deaths of his parents. Doom abandoned the castle to rot America.
and decay, issuing a royal decree that no one was to visit
or inhabit the cursed place, a fitting fate for the people Villages
who had taken his family from him.
The majority of people in Latveria live in small,
Doctor Doom reconsidered this decision after he had agricultural villages, tending their flocks and crops. Not
to destroy Castle Doom in order to defeat Prince much information about the rest of the world is allowed to
Rudolpho's first rebellion. While that castle was being filter down to these people, so they remain in this state of
rebuilt, the armored monarch stayed on the Riviera; he peasantry, not knowing any better.
found the experience of mingling with the rich and
famous so distasteful and beneath him that he ordered Outlying villages in Latveria give the capital city and
the old Draasen castle rebuilt for his use as well. their ruler, Doom , tributes consisting of a percentage of
their crops and livestock monthly. The tribute is always
The Citadel is similar to Castle Doom with its mix of gathered by a Doombot. The fact that it's a robot is totally
ancient architecture and modern technology. The unknown by the peasants. Therefore, they believe that
Citadel's main defense is vastly different from the more their ruler visits their village every month of the year. This
public Castle Doom , with its hidden traps and robots. increases the already healthy amount of awe his subjects
Instead, Doom has designed a visual refraction field that have for Doom, as every town sees Doom each month
makes all entrances to the castle seem several feet away and knows that he appears on the same two days each
from where they actually are. By the time a thief or month in every town. It also points out the fact that Doom
intruder has found a true entrance or collided with a wall is capable of being everywhere at one time.
he thought was an open door, the Citadel's robots are
prepared for its defense. Education

Doom resided here while the usurpers Zorba and Most children in Latveria receive at least a primary
Kristoff had control of Castle Doom and the throne of education in local schools. They learn the basics of
Latveria. This castle also contains numerous laboratories math, language, and Latverian history (slightly revised to
(with a duplicate of Dr. Doom's primary time machine), favor Doom's point of view). Then, if the parents (or the
dungeons, and living quarters for Doom. child) want to continue their child's education, he or she
must be sent to the three upper grade schools located
Citizens near the larger towns in the country. Students aren't
typically encouraged to attend school after grade school,
There is a general feeling of peace and happiness over since an educated populace is more of a threat to the
the Latverian countryside, only strained when visitors rule of Doom than uneducated people.
stray outside of Doom's proscribed laws. The Latverian
people are typically polite if not overly friendly, all being
extremely loyal to Doom and very much in awe of their
larger-than-life Master. Due to little recent exposure to

14

In the larger town schools, each child takes an A limited student exchange program has been
aptitude test, designed by Doom himself, when he or she implemented with a select few European nations and
reaches the age of twelve. It tests for potential scientific schools, including Cambridge and Oxford. Each student,
skills. Children who score high on the test are brought to after two years of study, is allowed one year of study
the official advanced school outside Castle Doom for abroad , with one condition : Roommates must attend the
more intensive instruction in the sciences. They are same school time at the same time. This serves a twofold
taught general scientific knowledge and tutored in their purpose for Doom-it tests the loyalty of his future
specialties by a combined staff of humans and robots. scientists as they gain the opportunity to leave Latveria
and it allows him to learn any new theoretical advances
Close watch is kept on the brightest students and other countries have made by using the androids as
steps are taken to make sure that they don't develop too information gatherers. Any student who tries to escape
much independent thinking without inhibiting their the clutches of Doom is usually subdued by his
educational advancement. Anyone who disobeys his or roommate and brought back to Latveria for an attitude
her teacher or works on an unofficial experiment is readjustment program.
severely reprimanded for his or her actions.
Legends and Folklore
The only college in the country is in Doomstadt, named
Werner Academy. The Academy ranks highly among Many scholars of folklore and superstition point to this
schools for its advanced scientific curriculum, though its remote area of the world as a virtual breeding ground for
non-scientific schooling is average; graduates of Werner such legends and tall tales. Latverians are no different
Academy have an education equivalent to one from the than their neighbors in that respect, sharing many
Massachusetts Institute of Technology or any common tales and beliefs with Transylvanians and
Hungarians, while having a wealth of local legends and
highly-ranked schools in America, Japan, or on the superstitions uniquely their own. Below are bits of
continent. Werner Academy rarely accepts non-native Latverian folklore, the first a common legend in the
students, though exceptions have been made in the mountains of the area and the second exclusively the
past; Doom's infamous reputation and the isolationist province of the little country's storybooks.
policies of Latveria tend to prevent many students from
even desiring to attend the school. Vampires and Count Dracula
Beliefs in vampires, the blood-sucking undead of movies
In both the advanced schools and the Academy, and literature, are quite prevalent throughout Latveria
checks are kept on the students by their roommates. and environs. Many of Latveria's original settlers were
Each student is assigned a roommate of the same age Transylvanian by birth, and brought many of their tales of
and aptitude. Unknown to the humans is the fact that vampires and werewolves into the budding country in the
each assignee student is an android, programmed to 14th century. Rumors of vampire activity in the Bolgorad
region of Latveria during the Haasen/Draasen wars were
become a friend and confidant. The android secretly thick in the air, but few took it seriously until the Battle of
monitors the student's progress and reports back any Boars' Vale in 1538.
suspicious behavior to the supervisor on duty. A file is
kept on each of the students, with all of the reports inside The Boars' Vale battle was one of the most bloody
it. When too many incidents are reported, that student is conflicts in Latveria's history, lasting three days and
reprimanded verbally, and , if warranted as judged by the slaughtering nearly 400 men by its finish. Surviving
supervisor, physically. This seeming omnipotence of the soldiers were recovered from the battlefield, but some of
supervisor keeps most of the students awestruck and the wounded reported mysterious figures moving about
compels them to obey all the guidelines. By the time in the evening mists, bending over the bodies of the
students graduate from this private school system or fallen and drinking their blood. Many brothers who fell in
academy, they have a place among Dr. Doom 's staff and
are completely loyal to their monarch, either through fear
or conditioned loyalty.

15

battle never returned home, alive or dead; many folk \
close to those missing also began disappearing, leading
to a panic about vampires. \

Five men came forward ready to handle the crisis;
Wilhelm Kroft and his sons Stefan, Leo, Oscar, and
Pietro were all conversant with vampire lore and were
self-proclaimed vampire slayers. In the course of three
years, the Kroft family slew upwards of 27 vampires, 19
of them directly resulting from the Battle of Boars' Vale.

The Kroft family continued its traditional role as
vampire slayers through the 19th century. The last known
account of the Krofts involves the Lord of the Vampires,
Count Dracula of Transylvania, and the last two sons of
the seventh generation descended from Wilhelm Kroft,
Pietro and Kurt Kroft. After a long and torturous battle
across the wilds of Latveria, the two young vampire
hunters trapped their prey at the Dark Falls. Dracula was
staked almost through the heart and driven over the falls
and into the water below at the cost of the 18-year old
Pietro's life. Kurt erroneously believed the vampire was
slain , but Dracula's fall over Dark Falls and emergence
from its icy waters only spurred more belief in t he
Darkoth myth (see below), since he left both Pietro and
an innocent shepherd dead by the pool beneath the
cataract. Kurt Kroft was the last of the Kroft vampire
hunters and he disappeared in 1871 at the age of 57,
never to be seen again.

Darkoth, the Death Demon
There is an old Latverian legend that tells that a man,
driven to the edge of madness by exposure and
starvation in the Latverian woods during the heart of
winter, stumbled into the Draken river, broke through the
skim of ice, and tumbled over Dark Falls (currently
named Doom's Falls, after Doom 's ascent to power) into
the murky depths below. A villager happened to be in the
area tending his sheep when he heard the man's scream
and watched him plummet to certain death in the pond
below. The shepherd raced back to his village and
brought many people for help. They searched t he river
for hours, looking below the ice for the certainly doomed
man. Just as they were about to give up, a creature
crawled out of the river downstream on the bank
opposite the would-be rescuers.

16

Large, purple-skinned from the cold, and having what day. Boris has become a faithful servant to Victor Von
looked like a long tail, the "demon" turned and howled at Doom and performed at least one major annual duty-to
the villagers in what they assumed was anger. They gather the man the world knows as Doctor Doom on
scattered and met later at the village square. Four men Midsummer's Eve, and bring him to the catacombs
never made it home that night, and the legend of beneath Castle Doom to fight Mephisto and his hordes to
Darkoth, the Death Demon had begun. rescue the soul of Doom 's mother, Cynthia.

Throughout Latveria, men, women and children huddle Boris is truly the only human Victor can truly trust, and
in terror at sounds of howling from the woods that he is the only one that helps Doom without hesitation. He
surround their tiny towns. The tale has been told to also helped resurrect Doom after Victor had gone insane
young children through the generations, surviving to the in a battle with Reed Richards.
current day. It is used to reinforce the ideas that Doom is
all-powerful-mothers tell frightened children that the Boris acknowledges that Doom has done many evil
Darkoth will get them if they attempt to leave fair Latveria things in his life, yet his word is his bond, and , in his own
and that the Master is the only one powerful enough to way, Boris loves Doom as his son. In fact, his
keep the Darkoth at bay or in thrall. granddaughter Valeria almost became Doom's wife until
she learned how obsessed with power Victor had
NPCs of Latveria become.

Typical Latverian Boris is still with Doom, despite his increasing years
FASER I p and seems to do much to temper his wrath ; without
Boris, Doom is prone to rash outbursts of fury and power
PR TY TY PR PR PR FB misdirected toward any near him. No matter what
becomes of him, Boris' path is clear-whenever his
Health: 20 Karma: 14 friend's son needs him, he'll be there.

Resources: PR(4) Popularity: O Darkoth, the Death Demon

Talents Desmond Pitt, former USAF Major & pilot, supercriminal,
ruler of Otherplace
Rural Latverians have Agriculture and Folklore skills,

while all other Latverians have skills appropriate to their

professions (Brewing, Blacksmithing, etc.). p

Boris FA S ER I FE
AM EX AM RM PR TY
Statistics: see Typical Latverian Health: 150
Resources: 0 Karma: 12
Popularity: - 20

Role-Playing Notes Role-Playing Notes
Boris is a soft-spoken, kindly old Gypsy with a sense of
loyalty and honor above reproach . He rarely speaks As Pitt, Darkoth was a career military officer and pilot.
unless spoken to but he is a consummate storyteller, well His devotion to his wife, however, surpassed even his
versed in the folklore of the lands. He carries himself dedication to duty. Even as Darkoth, he retains his loyalty
humbly and is easily underestimated or dismissed as "an to his friends and will not knowingly harm them . If his
old fool," but Boris has wisdom and learning from his memory is blanked out, he becomes a raging berserker
years and his association with Doom. and a relentless foe. Should he later regain his memory,
he turns his fury on whoever has used him.

History
Boris is a Gypsy who was a friend of Werner Von Doom.
At the deathbed of his friend , Boris promised to take care
of Werner's son, Victor, a vow that he has fulfilled to this

17

Known Powers Winged Flight: Diablo gave Darkoth two
Cyborg Body: As a cybernetic organism further mutated magically-derived abilities when he came under his
power. The first of these was the addition of tiny
through chemical means, Darkoth possesses a bat-like wings at his ankles which magically gave
number of superhuman powers. Major portions of Darkoth the power of flight at Typical airspeed.
his skeleton have been replaced with a Promethium
alloy (Monstrous material), rendering them close to Phasing: Darkoth was also given the power of
unbreakable. intangibility at an Excellent level, although he could
only employ it for limited periods of time (maximum
Armor Skin: Darkoth 's outer skin has transformed into a of 1d10 rounds).
thick purple hide that can withstand the Thing's
mightiest blows as well as being sufficiently durable Shape Alteration: Darkoth can manipulate his form with
to survive the friction of reentry into earth 's Unearthly rank while in the Otherworld dimension,
atmosphere. In game terms, this provides him with shaping and stretching his body to his liking. This is
Amazing protection from both physical and considered an Incredible rank power.
heat-based attacks.
Li mitations
Claws: In place of fingers, Darkoth is equipped with Because Darkoth rarely used the firehorns to any great
metal talons which do Incredible damage in extent, it can be assumed that they were weapons of last
combat. These talons are made of the same resort. The amounts of mental energy required to utilize
Promethium alloy as his skeleton (Monstrous them made them too costly to use in normal battles.
material strength), a metal strong enough to rip
through the Thing's tough outer armor. Hi st ory
• Poison: Darkoth formerly carried a type of poison Desmond Pitt was a major in the United States Air Force
on the tips of these talons that would render his when he met test pilot, Ben Grimm. In short order he and
opponent unconscious (Endurance FEAT against Grimm, who would later become the Thing and a
Incredible intensity). member of the Fantastic Four, became close friends.
During a brief return to civilian life, Pitt married and had
Prehensile Tail: Darkoth possesses a prehensile tail that a son. During this period, his relationship with Grimm
can be used as a weapon . Darkoth uses it as a remained close.
whip and as a means of constricting his opponents.
In both cases, the tail inflicts Good damage. Eventually, Pitt rejoined the Air Force and was
assigned to the Kennedy Space Center in Houston,
Firehorns: On Darkoth's head are two antennae called Texas. There he was placed on the staff of a research
firehorns. In an unexplained way, they feed on the project designed to develop the solar shuttle, a space
mental energies of Darkoth 's opponents within one shuttle variant that transmitted solar energy from orbit to
area. Darkoth's firehorns were capable of the solar panels on the planet's surface. As Pitt became
following Power Stunts: involved with the details and beginnings of the project,
his wife was diagnosed as suffering from a terminal
• Heat Emission: Fully charged, the horns can emit illness, her doctors giving her only a few months to live.
a Monstrous Intensity heat ray. Pitt was under great emotional stress over his wife's
condition when he also discovered that the solar shuttle
• Kinetic Bolt: The firehorns are also capable of project had been infiltrated by agents of Latveria.
sending off rays of heatless concussive force
which were of Excellent strength. The impact of In an effort to learn the extent of the infiltration and its
this force ray was sufficient to move a 500 pound purpose, Pitt decided to present himself as a willing
object back several yards in one attack. collaborator. Fearful that the spy network may well have

• Mind Control: The Firehorns can disrupt the mind
of any opponent, resulting in insanity. This
process takes 12 rounds of concentration to

achieve and is a power of Excellent rank.

18

extended into other areas of NASA, Pitt told no one of his who rushed to the spot where Darkoth had landed. There
plans, not even his superiors. Attempting to gather as he used his own life-prolonging potions to hold off
much information as possible, he became the confidante Darkoth's imminent demise and his will-sapping potions
of the ring's leaders. They were so impressed by Pitt that to insure his loyalty. Diablo chemically augmented
they brought him to the attention of their Master, Doctor Darkoth's powers, giving him both the powers of flight
Doom himself. To all appearances, Desmond Pitt was a and intangibility.
loyal spy for the armored villain.
Darkoth later broke into NASA intending to destroy a
He soon learned that Doom's men meant to utilize the shuttle that Ben Grimm was to pilot because it had been
awesome powers of the solar shuttle to energize solar sabotaged by Doom sometime in the past. The Thing
panels in Latveria. Before Pitt could expose the plan to drove Darkoth off before he could disable the ship. That
United States government officials, his wife succumbed night, Ben Grimm received a phone call from an old
to her illness and died. Grief-stricken, Pitt became friend whom he had thought dead-Desmond Pitt, who
careless and Doom discovered that he was a double warned Grimm about the shuttle sabotage.
agent. Doom 's operatives, still highly trusted in the space
program, denounced Pitt as a traitor. Before he could be The Thing piloted the shuttle into orbit when an energy
arrested , Desmond Pitt disappeared. U.S. officials ray caught the shuttle. It continued to tap power from the
deduced that he had been killed because of his apparent sun and funnelled the power back to Diablo. A side effect
failure to sell secrets to Latveria. was that the shuttle became superheated, threatening to
kill Ben Grimm . Diablo ordered Darkoth to increase the
In reality, Pitt had been kidnapped and brought to power, which would have killed the Thing, but Darkoth
cut the power in time to give Grimm the chance to pilot
Latveria. Doom wished to make an example of Pitt to the shuttle back to Earth. It exploded when it landed,
others who might dare to betray him . Pitt underwent leading everyone to believe that the Thing had been
months of chemical and cybernetic transmutation. Under killed .
Doom 's direct supervision, Pitt's body was reformed to
resemble a legendary demon that supposedly haunted Diablo sent Darkoth out to check one of their solar
the mountains of Latveria, Code-named Darkoth the collectors that had malfunctioned. He arrived to find it
Death Demon , Pitt was given extraordinary strength, smashed from the inside. The Thing had survived the
agility, and limited psionic powers. Desmond was, at the crash landing and was waiting inside. The two former
end of the process, exposed to Doom 's vibration device, friends fought and, during the battle, the potion that
a machine that could erase all traces of a man's past Darkoth needed to survive wore off. Darkoth became
personality and memories. Doom implanted in Pitt's mind weaker and then revealed himself to Ben Grimm as
the suggestion that he was in reality a demon who had Desmond Pitt. They teamed up against Diablo. During
been rescued from the Netherworld by Doom to be his that fight, Darkoth jumped on Diablo, carrying them both
personal warrior. As such, Darkoth became the loyal into a computer bank. Darkoth made one request, before
servant of the man who had made him a monster. the explosion killed him , that Ben repay his friendship by
finding his orphaned son and tell him the true story of his
Darkoth fought the Fantastic Four at Doom's command father. The solar collector exploded, presumably killing
until he heard that he was actually created by Doom. He Darkoth and Diablo.
turned on his master and when Doom attempted to flee
the Fantastic Four in a spacecraft, Darkoth stowed away However, instead of dying, the explosion flung Darkoth
onboard and attacked him as he piloted the ship into into Otherworld, a pocket dimension where the metal
orbit. The craft exploded and both Doom and Darkoth Promethium comes from . Otherworld was formerly called
were sent hurtling into re-entry. Magik's Limbo, but it was soon revealed that the pocket
dimension reflected the mind of its controller. After
Darkoth survived his fiery return to Earth, and his body staying hidden for months, Darkoth asserted his control
crashed into a barren sector of the Texas desert. His during Magik's long absences and the waning power of
flaming fall was noticed by Diablo, the master alchemist,

19

her pet demon S'ym . Doom tried to take over that realm , Talents
intending to destroy it to generate an infinite supply of
Promethium-a metal Doom now knew contained Kristoff possesses Dr. Doom's scientific skills.
inexhaustable supplies of energy.
History
Through his own Promethium-augmented body, the
Death Demon could generate greater energies than Kristoff was an ordinary boy in Doomstadt until his
before and even alter his form, adopting an even more mother was killed by an robot during the revolt against
demonic appearance in Otherworld. Darkoth , with the King Zorba. Doom had placed his mother under his
help of Excalibur and the Avengers West Coast, stopped protection only moments before she was shot. Kristoff
Doom's mad plans. Oarkoth now is the owner of the was adopted by Dr. Doom as his ward and successor.
Soulsword, the emblem of the ruler of Otherword. In this
dimension, Darkoth has the ability to change his shape When the Doombots discovered Dr. Doom had
at will. Presumably, he still resides in the dimension, apparently been killed in a battle with the Silver Surfer
keeping it safe from all intruders. and Tyros, they undertook a special contingency plan to
convert Kristoff into a " Doctor Doom." Doom wanted a
Doctor Doom II Doctor Doom to survive tor all time.

Kristoff Von Doom , intended heir of Doom and pretender They replaced Kristoff's mind with the personality and
to the throne (believed himself to be Doom) memories of a young Or. Doom. Kristoff impatiently
stopped the memory machine after the first few
FAS ERI p
AM encounters with the Fantastic Four, eager to commence
RM EX RM IN AM IN with a new plan of attack on his foes. Because the new
Health: 120 Karma: 140 Dr. Doom stopped the procedure prematurely, he lacks
Resources: AM (50) Popularity: 40 the full memory and the experience of the real Doom.

Role-Playing Notes Consequently, he generally repeated the actions of his
predecessor with only minor alterations.
Kristoff was a mental reconstruction of Dr. Doom during
his early years as a villain. His memories were altered to Kristoff sent the Fantastic Four's headquarters into
be identical to those of Doom before his encounter with space and detonated an explosion , figuring that this
the Ovoids. His personality was more erratic than the would kill his enemies. Unfortunately, the mind
now mature and subtly mellowed Dr. Doom. transferral was stopped before the original Doom had
learned of Sue Richards' forcefield, so the Fantastic Four
Known Powers easily survived and captured Kristoff.
None.
The real Doom returned through the intervention of the
Equipment Beyonder and when he went to regain his throne, Kristoff
stopped him. Kristoff and the Doomsmen were convinced
Kristoff wore armor identical in function to Dr. Doom's that the true Dr. Doom is an imposter. Kristoff possessed
original armor. Kristoff's armor, however, was an full access to Ooomstadt, Doom 's resources, and
exoskeleton designed to house an eight-year-old child Latverian consulates worldwide to combat the imposter.
and maintain the size and relative appearance of Dr. After a number of months in exile, Doom eventually
Doom. Kristoff had, on occasion, adopted smaller suits of reclaimed his throne. The details on Dr. Doom 's return to
his regular armor to better fit his younger body. (For data power are sketchy, but Kristoff was released from his
on Doom 's armor, see Chapter 3, page 71 .) Without the brainwashing with a posthypnotic command from Doom.
armor, all of Kristoff's abilities drop to Poor rank. Soon after, Kristoff died at the hands of Justice Peace
and the Time Variance Authority while posing as Doom.
In the end, despite Doom's fatherly affections, Kristoff
proved to be just one more pawn to be willingly sacrificed
by Dr. Doom .

20

The Doomsman The Doomsman, without the central power unit

Doomsman Mark I, nemesis of Dr. Doom regulating the procedure, was bathed in unchecked
cosmic energy. Under this barrage, the gauze-wrapped
FA s ER Ip being came to life, snapping his chains, and fleeing the
IN AM castle into the night by smashing every wall in his path.
EX EX RM IN AM
Health: 110 Karma: 140 Rudolfo and his ally, the Faceless One, approached
Resources: the wandering Doomsman in the wilderness and quickly
GD(10) Popularity: 0 allied themselves with him. Backed by such might and
armed with weapons provided by the Faceless One, the
Role-Playing Notes rebels attacked again. This time, they defeated Doom's
The Doomsman believes himself to be superior to the robot corps and forced the real Doom to enter the fray.
human race and should therefore rule it. His mental
template is identical to Doctor Doom's, but the During the battle, the Faceless One and the
Doomsman, due to a freak accident during his creat ion, Doomsman snuck into the castle, but Doom found them.
developed his own personality. The Doomsman shares In a confrontation, Doom 's and the Faceless One soon
Doom 's megalomania and ego, but constantly needs to reached a stalemate until the Faceless One called forth
prove himself at least Doom 's equal if not his better. the Doomsman to aid him against Doom.

Known Powers The android unwrapped the gauze around its face,
Power Cosmic: The Doomsman is powered by cosmic revealing a blue-skinned hairless man. The Doomsman
espoused the philosophy that he should be free to follow
energy of Monstrous rank. The energy has also
his own will, to serve no impulse save his own. With that,
manifested itself in the following power stunts: he lunged towards his creator.
Invisibility: Remarkable rank
Dimension Travel: Monstrous rank ability to travel Doctor Doom, in a desperate attempt to stop the
Doomsman, performed a " mind fusion" with it. Since the
between dimensions. android 's brain was patterned after Doom's, this attempt
succeeded. Immediately, Doom continued fighting the
History Faceless One with the Doomsman attacking in concert.
Doctor Doom tried to create the ultimate weapon, a The Faceless One fled, but Doom lost control of his
superpowered being fed by cosmic rays that would have creation again while defeating the rebels.
the same brain patterns as Doom himself. With an army
of such beings, Doom planned to rule the world, but fate Because of the dangers presented by the Doomsman
had other plans in store for the unpowered construct. and the inherent difficulty in controlling the android,
Doctor Doom gave up his goal of building an invincible
One of Doom's robots brought an apparent accident android army. When Doom met the Doomsman a final
victim , an injured woman, to the castle. There, Doom time, the Doomsman tried to kill the only human that he
learned that the woman Ramona had been planted here believed could stop him. Doom had prepared for this,
to aid in a rebellion led by Prince Rudolpho. Doom left and as the android moved to attack, the Doomsman was
teleported to another dimension.
the woman and returned to his laboratory and the still
inactive Doomsman. Simultaneously, Rudolfo contacted The Doomsman was banished to an arid, uninhabited
Ramona via a receiver implanted in her temple, and planet in another dimension, where three years would
ordered her to destroy the central power in the castle, so pass before a chance for freedom presented itself. The
an assault could begin against the castle. Inhuman dog named Lockjaw, on one of his teleport
trips, stopped in the Doomsman's dimension for a break.
Doom was at the power source, transferring his mind Invisibly, t he Doomsman teleported with him on the next
into the android, when Ramona burst onto the scene. jump, and acquired the secret of dimensional travel.
Now, he could gain his revenge.
Undaunted by the sight of Doom's unmasked face, she
smashed the master panel and blacked out the castle.

21

Doom had, at that time, constructed a far inferior Power-lance: The Dreadknight wields a personally
group of androids for use around his castle. They obeyed
Doom 's every word. They had even set up a temple to designed lance made of Remarkable Strength
worship a common god, which Doom passed off as a
flaw in the makeup of the newer androids. materials. It can be used as a lance to do Excellent

In reality, the Doomsman had returned to Latveria and damage, but it also has additional offensive
made himself known to the artificial beings by the name
of Andro, Lord of the Androids. He set himself up as the technologies within it:
ruler of Doom 's servants and , at his urging, the androids
battled the combined might of Doctor Doom and the • Force Blast: A pair of twin force-blast pods allow
Sub-Mariner and lost. Doom and Andro finally faced
each other and discovered that they were evenly the wielder to fire a blast of Remarkable force at
matched. All that Andro wanted to show himself and his
foe was that he was the equal of Doom; having proven up to 100 feet, or 5 areas.
that, he saw little reason to continue the fight. He
disappeared using his dimension-spanning power. • Electrical Cable: An entanglement cable shoots

Andro's current location and plans are not known. out of the lance's tip and can ensnare a target up

Dreadknight to 2 areas away. The cable makes a Grappling

Bram Velsing, former engineer attack at Remarkable Strength and on the next

round, the Dreadknight triggers an electrical

charge that automatically affects grappled foes

with Remarkable energy damage.

• Penetro-Shells: Two specialized projectiles can be

fired from the base of the lance with a range of 5

areas; upon impact, the penetro-shells inflict

Amazing edged damage.

Gas Pistol: The Dreadknight carries a Typical strength

material gas pistol that fires a blast of Amazing

FAS ER I p strength gas. He can fire at anyone in the same
EX GD GD GD
Health: 70 RM RM TY area and the target must make an Endurance FEAT
Resources: TY (6) Karma: 46
Popularity: - 2 roll against the Amazing intensity of the gas or be

stunned for 10-100 turns, The pistol has 4 shots.

Hel/horse: The Dreadknight rides Hellhorse, a mutated

Role-Playing Notes black stallion possessing bat-like wings and claws.
The Dreadknight is an arrogant and prideful man who
wants nothing but Dr. Doom 's destruction. His mind is It has the following statistics:
nearly consumed by revenge, and he will go to any
lengths to facilitate a plan which might bring about the FASER I P
Latverian monarch's downfall. His obsessiveness tends
to override his formidable intellect and leaves him quite GD GD EX IN FB TY PR
susceptible to external suggestions and mind control, as
shown by his " partnership" with Morgan Le Fay. Health: 80 Karma: 12

Claws: Excellent edged damage;

Wings: Poor flight.

Known Powers Talents
None.
Dreadknight is a Weapon Specialist with his lance

( +2CS). He is also a scientist with the Engineering and

Electronics talents.

Equipment
Body Armor: The Dreadknight wears full-body armor that

provides him with Good resistance to physical

damage and Excellent resistance to energy
damage.

22

History Von Doom, Cynthia
Bram Velsing was a brilliant scientist in Latveria, who
Statistics: Typical Latverian with RM Psyche & Intuition.
was not content to simply execute the technological
schemes of his evil monarch , Doctor Doom. Velsing Role-Playing Notes
bragged to his girlfriend Maria that he didn't need that Cynthia Von Doom, despite her infamous reputation as a
grotesque mockery of a man, referring to Doom, and that witch, was a driven woman who only wanted a life free
he'd soon be the master. from persecution and safety for her gypsy tribe. She, as
does her son, had a volatile temper and often acted
Learning of Velsing's ambitions and his presumption to rashly. In the end, however, she proved her essential
challenge Doom's authority, Doom showed Velsing his goodness and honesty and redeemed herself, gaining
own scarred face. To allow Velsing to be on his level, escape from Mephisto's nether-realm.
Doom then had a winged mask permanently bio-fused to
Velsing's face so that, like Doom's, his features were History
hidden for all time. The band of Gypsies in which Doctor Doom's parents
lived were persecuted by the Baron of Latveria and were
Anguished and humiliated, Velsing fled Latveria, and condemned as "shiftless wanderers." Where Werner was
eventually fell under the care of the Children, the genetic a gentle man and content with his fate, his young wife
creations of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, who at the time were was not. She was a practitioners in the mystical arts and
tended by Frankenstein's great-granddaughter, Victoria. one night, by accident, the lord of the dark realm,
While being nursed back to health at her castle Velsing Mephisto, felt her need. He tantalized her with the power
encountered the winged horse of the criminal Black to protect and avenge her people. After an initial
Knight. Victoria Frankenstein had tried to restore the rejection, she deemed the cost of the deal worth the
horse to normal, but had only succeeded in further rewards and accepted Mephisto's deal.
mutating it. Bram Velsing decided to use the horse, his
scientific intellect, and his new terrifying visage to seek That night, she went into town to a local tavern visited
revenge against Doom by adopting the new identity of by the Baron 's guards. She threatened that, unless the
the Dreadknight. When the Dreadknight sought to steal Baron paid the Gypsies back for all the torment heaped
the secret notebooks of Victor Frankenstein, Victoria upon them, she would destroy his castle. In rage against
thwarted his plan with the aid of the Frankenstein the guards' insults, she unleashed her power against one
Monster and Iron Man, who had landed in Yugoslavia in of them, but the spell affected the entire village.
route to America. The Dreadknight was left in the care of Mephisto had given her great power but precious little
the Children after his defeat. control , and no child survived the night due to Cynthia's
careless magic.
The Dreadknight remained at the castle for many long
months, kept alive but unconscious by Frankenstein's In grief over the suffering innocents, she renounced
creatures. He stayed in this condition until Morgan le Fey her dread power. With a foul wind whipping about her
and her son Mordred revived him to fight the Black that echoed Mephisto's laughter, Cynthia didn't hear a
Knight for them. For this service, Bram Velsing was guardsman come up behind her. She was stabbed with a
promised he would rule at their sides when they had sword, and was mortally wounded. Still, she managed to
conquered the world. stagger back to the Gypsy camp. Werner found his dying
wife just outside the camp. She lived long enough to tell
The Dreadknight fought the Black Knight, who at the him what she had done and made him promise to protect
time was possessed by the original Black Knight-Sir their son from the power she had unleashed.
Percy of Scandia and a Knight of the Round Table.
Velsing's lance was shattered during the battle and he
was defeated. The Dreadknight was last seen in northern
Ireland, where this battle took place. His current activities
and exact whereabouts are unknown.

23

The Gypsies quickly left their camp, and Cynthia's Fire Control and Generation: Doom's clone can emit
unmarked grave, behind them. Werner tried to fulfill his flames of Remarkable intensity and range. He also
promise to his wife by dumping her chest of magical has Monstrous control over natural and personally
paraphernalia over the first bridge they crossed. This generated flames.
attempt and others over the years failed to keep the box
from reappearing, dry and intact, in the Gypsy camp. Flight: He can fly at Good speed (4 areas/round).
Armor Skin: Doom's clone has a rough hide like the
Years later, Victor did find the trunk and started gaining
his power using both magic and science. With a son's Thing, granting him Incredible resistance to
love for his mother, Victor tried to free her soul from physical and energy attacks; coupled with his fire
Mephisto for years, battling to a draw every Midsummer's powers, he has an Amazing resistance to heat
Eve until aided by Dr. Strange, Earth's Sorcerer energy attacks.
Supreme. The two powerful spellcasters invaded Invisibility: Victor II has Excellent rank invisibility.
Mephisto's realm intent on rescuing the woman. Through Force Field: The clone can generate Incredible rank
various manipulations, Doom appeared to have betrayed invisible force fields within his same area.
Dr. Strange to save his mother. When she saw how Power Selection: A maximum of two powers can be used
ruthless Victor had become, she refused to be rescued at during a single turn; note that the clone's armor-like
the cost of another, least of all one betrayed by her son. skin does not count as a separate power.
This refusal redeemed her and ended Mephisto's c laim
on her. Cynthia Von Doom is now, after years of torment, History
Doctor Doom set up a dummy corporation, Cynthian
at peace. Associates, with the hidden agenda to return Reed
Richards' powers to him. He then set up his clone, Victor
Von Doom, Victor II Von Doom II, as the figurehead supervisor for that
organization. Each part of a specially-designed
Victor Von Doom II (clone), "son" of Victor Von Doom spacecraft was designed and researched separately, with
no one in the company fully knowing the final use of their
FAS ER I p research.
RM EX AM GD
Health: 150 AM TY TY Reed, having lost his powers at that time, had recently
Karma: 22 disbanded the Fantastic Four and accepted a
Resources: EX(20) Popularity: O high-paying research job at Cynthian. He found his
supervisor vaguely familiar but couldn't quite place the
Role-Playing Notes face. Richards quickly became suspicious of the project
Aside from being physically younger and unscarred, because the section of the final product that he was
Victor II was identical in thinking and acting to Dr. Doom. working on could only be used for a limited amount of
devices.
As "Doom's son," the clone was loyal and trusting of
Doom; once the truth was revealed, he saw Doom as a During his sleep, Reed was subjected to a
cruel, ruthless manipulator with nearly no humanity. hypno-persuader by Victor II and Hauptmann , the
Victor II was a bit more human and merciful, his sanity younger brother of a former Nazi scientist killed earlier in
unblemished by years of revenge, scarring, and attempts Doom's career. They hypnotized the former leader of the
at world domination. Victor II was, in essence, Dr. Doom Fantastic Four into mindlessly serving Doom. Reed
on the side of good. donned the Invincible Man's armored costume and
stalked his former teammates in Hollywood.
Known Powers
Elongation: He can stretch any part of his body up to 3 The rest of the Fantastic Four were captured by the
Invincible Man and were transported to upstate New York
areas away with Incredible ease. where his identity was revealed to them. The supervisor

24

of Cynthian Associates, told Reed to finish the work he against, he placed a micro-feedback circuit in his belt to
began or that he would kill his teammates. Due to the counter anything Doom sent at him. The Fantastic Four
years since last seeing Doom's face and the stress of the
situation, neither Reed nor Ben recognized the director's confronted Doom but were recaptured when Doom
face as that of Victor Von Doom . threatened Alicia Masters. Zorba broke into the castle as
the coronation ceremony began and freed the FF.
Richards, still in the dark about who was behind this
affair, went along with the plans. He now knew the They interrupted the coronation , just as Doom started
project was designed specifically to restore his powers, to transfer the crown to his "son." Zorba, in front of the
but the reasoning for this apparent altruism, however crowds, told Doom to tell the truth for once, that his son
forced, remained hidden. From the Cynthian Associates was actually his clone! Doom, in a rage, sent his robots
research facility in upstate New York, Richards blasted against the Fantastic Four and Zorba. As that fight
off in a rocket, planning to duplicate the accident that continued, Doom 's clone mutated into a man-shaped
turned him into Mr. Fantastic in the first place. The version of the Thing . When Richards had stopped the
cosmic rays restored his powers to an even greater machine, it had somehow succeeded in transferring the
degree than before. Fantastic Four's powers to Doom's clone. Doom ordered
it to use its power to attack the people who had caused
Meanwhile, the rest of the Fantastic Four had been this to happen. The clone claimed that his new powers
transported to Latveria where they were imprisoned in did more than just strengthen him-they made him see
another dungeon. While there, the real Doctor Doom how he and Doom truly were and that sickened him. His
revealed to the Fantastic Four that, by the laws of mind and thoughts were of Victor Von Doom before the
Latveria, he had to abdicate the throne to someone. accident that had driven him insane. The creator and
clone fought, with the clone insisting that Doom
Doom introduced his son, the supervisor of Cynthian
Associates, as his successor. recognize the fact that he had lost his mind and his
humanity. Doom, to silence his clone, killed him.
Richard's spaceship crashed in re-entry and Doom and
Reed's teammates believed he died in the crash. He
managed to survive and used an FF Pogo Plane to fly
quietly into Latveria, intent upon stopping the menace of
Doctor Doom forever. He encountered some robots and
was rescued by members of the Latverian Freedom

Fighters. Hidden in the hills of the tiny country, Reed met
Zorba, the leader of the Latverian Freedom Fighters and
learned that Doom had a son lined up to take over the
throne from him.

Doom placed the three captured members of the
Fantastic Four into a transference machine, planning to
give his "son" the powers of the Fantastic Four. At the
same time, outside the castle, Reed and Zorba's
Freedom Fighters began their assault against Doom's
castle. Reed infiltrated the castle but Doom saw through
his disguise and , using surprise, captured him. Now his
" son" would have all the powers of the Fantastic Four!

Back in the Transferral room, an elastic fist broke out
of the globe that was holding Mr. Fantastic. He quickly
shut down the machine and freed his teammates. He

explained that, as soon as he knew who he was up

25

For people to truly understand the way Latveria is today, Doom:The Beginning
they must understand the man who currently sits upon its
throne. Before Victor Von Doom's regime, Latveria was Victor Von Doom was born to Werner and Cynthia Von
Doom , members of a roaming gypsy band that
"a pitiful joke," run into financial ruin over the course of periodically travelled throughout the Balkan Mountain
fifty years of exorbitant, unregulated spending by the range of Europe. Werner was the Gypsy tribe's healer
monarchs of Latveria. All attempts to stabilize the and Cynthia was a Gypsy sorceress of some ability as
economy failed until, in a bid to bring modern technology well as the alleged leader of the troupe. As Victor grew
to Latveria, Prince Rudolfo invited an armored stranger up in the carefree lifestyle of t he gypsy, he spent much
into the court. Within the space of months, the time in the company of Valeria, the grand-daughter of a
mysterious Dr. Victor Von Doom proved his technologies familial friend, Boris. They became good friends and
and his usefulness to Latveria by seizing the throne of confidants.
the tiny nation.
During Victor's youth , the Gypsies were persecuted in
Dr. Doom has been ousted twice in his career from his many of the countries where they stayed , and Latveria
overlordship of Latveria, but he has regained the throne was among the worst hosts. The intolerable conditions
and the love of the country's people each time. Despite drove his mother to dabble in magics far beyond her
Doom's failings and his world-wide status as the most control. Without regard to the cost, she contacted
dangerous supervillain alive, his leadership has Mephisto, an evil being of immense power, and entered
stabilized this tiny country, and made it one of the safest into a pact with him to gain a safe homeland for her
(for the natives) and most prosperous countries in people and a "future free of terror and want" for her son.
Flushed with her newfound power, Cynthia attempted to
Europe. force the local baron and his guards to respect her
Doom has a long and involved history which people. She unleashed her power within the town at
some of the local baron's guardsman, but she found she
incorporates some of the greatest sagas ever published had gained much power but no corresponding control to
by Marvel Comics. His first appearance was in reign in the effects of her spell. Every child in the village
FANTASTIC FOUR #5, cover date July 1962, and he has died that night due to her spell. She renounced her awful
appeared in nearly every Marvel comic book since that power just as a guardsman managed to thrust a dying
time. His origins have been revealed over long periods of blow into Cynthia Von Doom .
time, much of his initial origin printed in 1964
(FANTASTIC FOUR Annual #4) but the full details of his Werner found her at the outskirts of their camp the
and his mother's lives were not shown until 1989 (Dr. next morning. Werner and his best friend, Boris, buried
Strange and Dr. Doom: Triumph and Torment Graphic her in an unmarked grave in the forest and threw her
Novel). This chapter combines nearly every detail on chest of arcana and magical items off the first bridge
Doom 's life, including his full origin and information on them went across. It magically appeared at the camp
every recorded appearance of Doom from 1962 through three days later. Other repeated attempts at destroying
1991. No one may fully know what lurks behind Doom's the cursed box were equally unsuccessful. Werner
iron mask, but he or she can strive to learn everything eventually ceased his efforts and simply buried the chest
within his other belongings.
possible. For knowledge is power and power is Doom .
After his mother died, Victor became much more
intense and serious, learning as much about how the
way things worked as possible. He and Valeria remained
friends through this time. While young and not nearly as
driven as in later years, he still had room in his heart for
others, and his close friendship with Valeria deepened
into love.

26

Some time later, back in Latveria after the uproar had During the next few years, Victor travelled with Boris,
died down, Victor's father was taken to the house of the Valeria, and the Gypsies, stopping at every town library
Baron Draasen, and was told to use his skill and magic
to heal the Baron's wife. Another Gypsy, Boris, looked and adding to his studies. Victor had a powerful, analytic
after the young Victor during his father's absence. mind and he easily absorbed every scrap of information
Werner did all he could for the woman, but her illness he could. To the young Doom, knowledge gave him
strength and he was compelled to learn to add to his
was beyond his power to cure and he knew that she was personal power. He quickly honed both his scientific and
going to die of terminal cancer. The Baron blamed the magical skills, eventually abandoning magic for a time
elder Doom for her death and sought to destroy Werner and concentrating on science-a change which pleased
and his tribe in retribution . and relieved Boris, who saw his young charge walking
the same path of destruction his mother travelled. Doom
Werner found his son playing in the fields with Valeria, studied voraciously and learned more than anyone in his
and told him of his predicament. Fearing swift reprisals, tribe had ever known without the benefit of schooling.
the gypsy band fled together from the Latverian steppes
with the soldiers of the Baron close behind them. Werner He travelled around the Balkans, selling magical trifles
and Victor fled separately from the main band of gypsies, such as golden statues that quickly turned into mud and
travelling through the mountains. Winter unexpectedly other fake items to unsuspecting villagers. The
set in early and snow began falling during their trek, authorities finally caught him, but at his scheduled
forcing Werner to use his own threadbare clothing to
protect his son from the elements. The two were execution, the executioners discovered that all they had
discovered by Boris, both nearly frozen, and were caught was a mechanical man that looked like Victor Von
brought into a warm tent. The strain of the past days
coupled with pneumonia and Werner died quickly, his Doom.
last words being " You must protect . . . protect ... He continued to use his genius to steal and to evade
oohhh . . .." The last part of the sentence was lost in his
dying gasp. Victor thought his father meant to protect capture by the authorities. Clearly, Doom's genius was
him, but even then , Boris knew better. Werner had meant beginning to shine now as he began creating more
for his friend to protect the world from his son. complex weaponry and items better than were available
to conventional forces. He created a means to protect his
On his father's death bed, the young Doom proclaimed fellow gypsies' wagons from cannon fire, providing them
that he would have his revenge against the rest of a measure of safety from harrassment. He also produced
humanity for the unfair deaths of his mother and father. a freeze grenade that once froze a pursuing tank solid.
Nearly a year later, the young Gypsy had found his first
step towards his revenge-his mother's legacy, a secret One day, the Dean of Science from State University
chest of magic potions and strange arcane devices. heard about this young scientific genius, found the young
Valeria urged Victor not to delve into the mystical arts, Doom, and offered him a scholarship to attend his school
but to no avail. The contents of this chest proved that his in the United States. Doom accepted the offer, if only for
mother had been a sorceress and Doom was determined a chance to increase his scientific knowledge and
to follow, at least partially, in her footsteps to gain power thereby increase his power. When the young genius
for his revenge. Victor had an instinctive affinity for his announced that he was going to America to study,
mother's magics, and exceeded her craft in one small
Valeria asked Doom about their dream for a life together.
way- he didn't need to summon other beings for power, His response, that the dream had died in childhood and
for he found it all within himself. This also marked the that he had no tender feelings left in him, prompted
point at which Victor learned that his mother's soul was Valeria to respond with " Then I pity you, Victor! " and she
trapped by Mephisto, the being that had granted her the tearfully left him. Doom had broken his ties with the
Gypsies and had moved on to learn of the world outside
power in the first place.
the Balkans.

27

At the university, Victor was a reclusive, arrogant, and
thoroughly brilliant student. He and Reed Richards were
the two top students at the school and were continually
competing and arguing about theories that even the
school's Nobel laureates had difficulties understanding.
This competition was something foreign to Victor, as he
had no intellectual equals in his Gypsy tribe, and his
pride had swelled to enormous proportions; the origin of
his hatred for Reed Richards stems from his denial of an
intellectual rival or equal.

Doom began working in secret on a dangerous project
in his university apartment, one that precariously mixed
magic and science in an effort to contact other
dimensions. One day, Reed Richards went to visit Doom
and found his room open. Reed casually read some
notes about Doom's project and noticed an error in some
calculations. When Reed later pointed out that there
might be some problems with his work, Doom dismissed
him outright and didn't even consider that he could be
correct. Doom went through with the experiment without .
checking any of his computations; the result was an
equipment explosion that left his face scarred on his
cheek. He was thrown out of the university for his
recklessness and he left America, his passion for power
undimmed and perhaps even tinged with a touch of
madness due to his accident. His scars from the
accident, while judged minor by some, were crippling to
Doom's ego, and he distanced himself from nearly all
human contact.

Doom then went to Tibet, searching for forbidden
secrets of black magic and sorcery. Doom found the
Aged Ghengis who pointed him towards a group of
Tibetan monks where Doom would find his destiny. He
was taken in by them , and he learned all he could from
them, becoming their master in the process. Following
Doom 's instructions, the monks forged a suit of metal for
him to wear. Victor was in such a rush to complete the
suit and put the mask on, he had it placed over his face
while it was still red-hot. His scarred face was now
charred and even more disfigured. When the armor was
completed, he renamed himself Dr. Doom and left the
monks to pursue his supposed destiny to rule mankind.

28

Doom: The Villain Clashes Across Time and Space
Dr. Doom officially began his criminal career after
Dr. Doom quickly started to implement his plan to take reading about Reed Richards, the man whom he
over the country his gypsy tribe spent most of their time believed responsible for his accident in college. He
in-Latveria. Doom enhanced his mystically-forged attacked his old classmate's team, the Fantastic Four, by
armor, adding many powerful electronic weapons and throwing a huge electrified and flame-resistant net over
defenses to the armor's arsenal. He also constructed one the entire Baxter Building. When he announced himself
of his first armored robots, a duplicate of himself, so that to the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards recognized his
he could become the scientific advisor to King Vladimir voice as his old college rival, Victor Von Doom , and then
of Latveria. His robot promised to bring Latveria to the related what he knew of Doom for his teammates.
forefront of the world's technical advances, and this
would make Latveria the envy of all nations of the world. Doom captured Sue Storm, the Invisible Girl, as a
The king believed Doom's bombastic claims after a few hostage, to make the rest of the Fantastic Four do his
minor demonstrations and allowed the robot to conduct bidding, a strategy that easily succeeded. The Thing, Mr.
its experiments within the castle. Soon, Doom knew all Fantastic, and the Human Torch willingly allowed
about King Vladimir, his family, and the castle. themselves to be imprisoned into Doom 's helicopter,
which then flew away at ultrasonic speeds to Doom's
Doom constructed a second robot, an exact duplicate fortress in the Adirondack mountains. Using Dr. Doom's
of Prince Rudolpho. Doom captured the real prince and time platform, the Fantastic Four were forced to go back
placed him in the most remote dungeon within the castle, in time without Sue to get Blackbeard's treasure chest.
an area rarely patrolled or visited. Doom tricked a minor
count of the Draasen family into believing he had Doom 's The Fantastic Four retrieved the chest but emptied it
into the ocean and replaced the gems within it with
support in a coup for the throne, as Victor pledged his chains. Dr. Doom wanted some specific gems amongst
support for a new monarch on the throne of Latveria. The the common treasure, gems enchanted by the wizard
simple noble then assassinated the elderly King Vladimir, Merlin to make their wielder invincible.
leaving Rudolfo the next target.
After Doom opened the chest and realized that he had
The Rudolfo robot, under the control of Doom, foiled been tricked, the Thing attacked and destroyed the
an attempted assassination attempt on his life at the Doom robot that had been masquerading as Doom . From
royal funeral of his " father," exposing the petty noble in a hidden location , Dr. Doom sealed the room the three
front of many witnesses. The Draasen noble was quickly male members of the Fantastic Four were in and began
sucking all the oxygen out, intending to suffocate them.
executed, and the robot executed its master program, Sue Storm, invisibly, threw a cut-off switch and saved her
feigning little desire for such a dangerous seat. Due to
the sincerity and emotion of his claims (products of its teammates. The Fantastic Four escaped and tried to
complex programming), the people of Latveria believed smoke Dr. Doom out of his castle. Doom managed to fly
and accepted that Rudolfo willingly abdicated the throne away with a flying harness and escape.
to the "stronger and more able" Victor Von Doom.
After his first defeat by the Fantastic Four, Dr. Doom
Doom's coronation was performed by the robot Prince sought out and gained the Sub-Mariner as a potential
Rudolfo. Victor quickly established a nation of peace and ally. Returning to Namor's undersea home, Dr. Doom
prosperity ruled by a stern dictatorship. Sequestered in persuaded Namor to help him fight the Fantastic Four.
the castle overlooking the newly-renamed Doomstadt, Doom demonstrated a device he named the Grabber,
Doom used the resources of his new power base to which used magnetic force to grab and move objects.
further his dreams of conquest and revenge against the Following a brief but convincing demonstration, the
world and Reed Richards. During the next months, he device was then dismantled and placed in the
built his greatest invention-the time platform . Sub-Mariner's belt buckle.

29

Namor planted the Grabber in the basement of the At the Fantastic Four's headquarters, Dr. Doom
Baxter Building and acted as a diversion, drawing the developed a reducing ray in order to shrink the rest of
Fantastic Four's attention until Doom could act. Using the Fantastic Four out of existence. As a rationalization
the power of the Grabber, Dr. Doom began towing the for using this on them , he told the three of them that, by
Baxter Building into space with his aerosub. reducing them , they could gain better control of their
powers as well as increasing their power's strength .
Dr. Doom was finally beaten in this encounter by his
ally, the Sub-Mariner. Namor got onto his ship and Richards, while still trapped in Doom 's body, made it
disabled it by absorbing the electrical energy Doom sent back to the city and appealed to the Thing's girlfriend
against him like an electric eel and sending it coursing Alicia Masters, telling her that he was actually Reed
back through the ship. Dr. Doom was forced to abandon Richards. Sue Storm was there at the time, and subdued
the ship in space during a meteor shower, and he was him, thinking he was their enemy. They brought "Doom"
seen fading into the distance holding onto a meteor. The back to the Baxter Building, where " Reed" was
Grabber was deposited in the ocean by Namor. Despite preparing to shrink the team into non-existence.
this defeat and shattered alliance, Doom and Namor
would become allies many more times in the future. Sue Storm was about to be subjected to the ray when

" Reed's Not In His Right Mind ..." the real Reed protested . Dr. Doom tripped him to stop the
Doom was rescued off the adrift meteor by aliens known protestation and was about to continue the experiment
as the Ovoids. These aliens were able to live nearly when the Thing and the Human Torch became
forever by switching bodies with clones of their dying suspicious. The Torch created an illusion of a stick of
dynamite in the room, which caused the real Reed to
selves. Dr. Doom learned their secret of switching bodies leap at the stick to pull out the fuse, saving the others,
and was returned to Earth by the benevolent creatures. while Doom slithered up a vent to save himself.
He appeared at the Marvel Comics offices of Stan Lee
and Jack Kirby, the creators that published the comic Due to the shock of having his plans exposed, Doom
lost his mental control over the mind-transfer and the two
adventures of the FF. Forcing Lee to phone Mr. Fantastic, men's minds were transferred back into their own bodies.
Stan asked Reed to come over and go over a current plot In the ensuing battle, Doom was struck by the shrinking
with him. Reed complied and, upon arrival , was captured ray and he shrank out of sight.
by Doom .
Some time later, inexplicably, the Fantastic Four
Back at a secret laboratory, Doom revealed to Reed randomly started to shrink. Each member of the team
his rescue at the hands of the aliens. During his shrank individually and then was returned to normal size.
explanation , Dr. Doom secretly was preparing for the Mr. Fantastic called upon Ant-Man to help them with this
transference process that the Ovoids had taught him. strange affliction. He gave them his shrinking and
Doom switched minds with Richards in time for the rest expanding elixir to help them in case this happened
of Reed's team to show up and capture " Doom," actually again. Richards decided to shrink the team down in an
capturing their own leader. The real Doom convinced the effort to find out who was behind these attacks on the FF.
team to put their metal-clad foe into a plexi-glass They shrank down and entered the Micro-World, ending
up in a throne room facing Dr. Doom, the man behind
chamber. When they asked about his air supply, " Reed " their shrinking spells. He shrunk t hem down to the
dismissed that as irrelevant, saying Doom had enough to relative size of dolls and easily captured them.
survive. Trusting " Reed 's" judgement, the Fantastic Four
left the chamber. Dr. Doom gloated to the imprisoned When Dr. Doom had been accidentally shrunk down,
Richards that he had one hour's worth of air left. After he found the Micro-World with a peaceful ruling society.
Doom left, Reed managed to escape his prison by By subterfuge, he soon he had taken over the world. The
jamming an oxygen container into a crack he made in former rulers, the King and Princess Pearla, were
the plexi-glass with Doom's armor, causing it to explode.
reduced in size and placed into a dungeon.

30

From Micro-World, Doom had sent his shrinking ray After discovering Doom's floating laboratory, hidden
and voice to Earth, playing a cat and mouse game with within a cloud above the city, Reed also found that
his enemies. The Fantastic Four members were thrown Doom's robots had recorded the FF's atomic and
into the dungeon with the king and princess. While in the molecular structures. Doom had connected this
information into his disintegrator defenses so the ray
dungeon, the Fantastic Four learned from the princess would automatically destroy anyone matching those body
that Doom was going to sell them all to a hostile alien patterns, namely his greatest enemies. To counteract this
race called the Tok, who would make them slaves defense, Richards devised a serum that would change
forever. the Thing back into Ben Grimm for a short period of time,
thereby changing Ben's molecular pattern . Ben
On Earth , Ant-Man had discovered the remnants of his penetrated the defenses and, returning to his Thing form,
glass elixir containers on the floor in Fantastic Four destroyed them from within. The Fantastic Four rescued
headquarters. Deciding to follow the FF, he was promptly Alicia and forced Doom to flee his flying headquarters by
captured by Dr. Doom as well. leaping into the clouds below.

The Fantastic Four soon escaped their prison and Pawns and Kings
began an assault upon Doom. They got back to Doom's Surviving the plunge from his flying laboratory by using a
castle and used the expansion ray there to restore them jet-powered flying belt, Doom tried once again to gain an
to the proper human size for Micro-World. The Thing ally so he could beat the heroic foursome. He sent a
batted the incoming Tok ship away and Sue Storm freed message to Spider-Man using a Spider-Wave
Ant-Man . Dr. Doom escaped through a hidden hatch and Transmitter; at the t ime Spider-Man was unknown as a
subjected himself to the enlarger ray, to get back to his hero or criminal, but Doom thought he might ally against
normal size, escaping the Micro-World. the Fantastic Four. The young hero responded but
rejected an alliance with him.
The Fantastic Four, upon their return from Pearla's
world, began looking for Dr. Doom immediately. They Having been abandoned, Doom now wanted revenge.
were unable to find him, but Dr. Doom found them. Doom fashioned a Geiger counter-like device that
centered on a spider's impulses, hoping to find and
Posing as an old , bearded janitor, Doom got close capture Spider-Man to use as an ally. With Spider-Man
enough to each member of the Fantastic Four to affix a out of sight but nearby, Doom caught a costumed Flash
tiny, tissue-thin plastic disk to each of their hands. Dr. Thompson , a classmate of Peter Parker's, by mistake.
Doom then released four lighter than air robots that Spider-Man arrived and fought Doom to a standstill until
followed each member of the FF. The robots were the Fantastic Four appeared in the Fantasti-Car. Not
attuned to the little disk so they followed the team prepared to confront them, Doom made a strategic
members everywhere. The robots proved to be intangible withdrawal and escaped.
and the Fantastic Four were unable to shake them until
Mr. Fantastic discovered the disks and removed them Doom later bailed 3 criminals out of jail: Bull Brogin,
from their hands. Upon removing the disks, the robots " Handsome Harry" Phillips, and Yogi Dakor. Each
faded away. criminal possessed a quality that Doom needed for his
most recent plan to destroy the FF. He used the XZ-12
The next stage of Doom 's plans unfolded. He used a machine to increase a specific ability or aspect of each
grappler beam to kidnap the Thing's girlfriend Alicia person. Bull Brogin gained increased strength, Harry
Masters from the street into his floating laboratory. He Phillips's hearing become sensitive enough to hear a
then used her as a hostage to protect him from the feather falling, and Yogi Dakor's resistance to flame was
Fantastic Four while he issued his demands: a post in magnified until he was nearly invulnerable to flame.
the U.S. President's cabinet. When the United States
ignored Doom 's demands, the evil genius caused all of
the electronics in the US to malfunction. In desperation ,
the government called upon the Fantastic Four for aid.

31

Doom sent each of these people out to capture the Doom drifted aimlessly in outer space for a number of
Thing, the Invisible Girl, and the Human Torch, a task days after his ionic dust trap teleported him there, his
which they all respectively accomplished. The reward for armor's internal oxygen supplies sustaining him. A ship
his minions' success was to be transported to another discovered Doom floating in space near Jupiter, his
dimension until he had need of them again. oxygen supply severely depleted. The ship's pilot and
occupant-Rama-Tut, a time-traveling criminal and
Using a robot that looked like the Thing, Doom self-proclaimed pharaoh of ancient Egypt-drew Dr.
managed to capture Mr. Fantastic himself. Dr. Doom held Doom inside the ship's airlock and rescued him from
the captive heroes in a recently purchased warehouse certain death. Rama-Tut sent Doom back to Earth to get
specially treated for his revenge against Richards and revenge upon the Fantastic Four for both of them , as
his team . Doom had coated the room with ionic powder, Rama-Tut had clashed with the Fantastic Four before.
a unique compound that captured energy from a daily
solar wave phenomenon and transported what it touched The Fantastic Four were invited to an official embassy
into outer space; effectively, the dust and the solar wave reception , given by Ambassador Gorzenko of Latveria, to
would turn the room into a teleportation device, shunting receive a scientific fellowship. They accepted, unaware
the room's contents to an unknown point in outer space. that Doom now ruled in Latveria (For a number of months
The Fantastic Four broke free and fought Doom again, after Doom 's ascension to the throne, all the world knew
unaware of the danger of staying in the warehouse. Dr. was that someone called " the Master" sat on Latveria's
Doom escaped the room just as the solar wave was throne.). For the dinner, Doom treated a native juice drink
about to pass over it. The room began to disappear with chemicals so the heroes reacted to illusions that
around the heroes, leaving them only space to fall into. Doom wanted them to see. Only Reed didn't drink,
keeping him free of Doom 's influence.
Sue Storm caught Doom with her invisible force field
and held him pinned to the outside of the room, vowing Due to Dr. Doom's manipulations, the Fantastic Four
that if the Fantastic Four were to lose, they would take started fighting each other, Doom gloating in the
Doom with them. Doom came back into the room through background. With Reed's help and Doom's presence
a secret panel , attempting to save his life by getting rid of revealed to the others, the quartet was eventually able to
the remaining ionic powder, but it was too late. Doom fell resist the effects of the illusions. Heading back to the
out of the rapidly vanishing room and was cast adrift in Baxter Building, they found Doom waiting for them .
space while the Fantastic Four crawled back through the
secret panel to safety. Since he was the one with whom Doom had a grudge,
Richards proposed a one-on-one showdown of his mind
The three criminals given enhanced powers by Doom versus Doom 's. They toasted each other, Reed vowing
returned three more times in the intervening years to that this was their final battle, and then engaged the
plague the Human Torch and the Thing. When Doom Encephalo-gun for their duel. The gun pitted one psyche
was adrift into space after his last attempt to defeat the against another, the loser being sent to a timeless and
Fantastic Four, his three prisoners were released from inescapeable limbo. Dr. Doom saw the leader of the
their extra-dimensional prison. Upon each release from Fantastic Four disappear in front of him and declared
prison (whether in other dimensions or on Earth), they himself the winner of the battle. He ignored the rest of
the FF and left, leaving them quite befuddled. Reed
attempted to defeat the Fantastic Four one member at a Richards was still in plain view to his teammates. Reed
time. Their teamwork was always sporadic and their had given Doom the tainted Latverian berry-juice and,
plans were too often fixed on the FF's defeat. Needless with his strong mind, planted the illusion of his defeat in
to say, their efforts met with failure each time. Their last Doom's mind. With Doom's strength of will focused on
foray proved to be their most embarrassing, as they were believing this illusion , it would be a number of months
defeated by the Thing and the Impossible Man. before he could break free of it.

32

Battle of the Baxter Building and Beyond Baxter Building and pelted the warehouse with energy
As a result of a battle with the Frightful Four, the blasts. Doom then took over the Baxter Building's
Fantastic Four had lost their powers. Reed tried to create defenses and used them against the Fantastic Four. The
devices to imitate their powers so their enemies wouldn't quartet was nearly defeated until joined by Daredevil,
know how helpless they really were. He was less than who left as Matt Murdock just before the attack started.
successful and, fearing the worst, contacted Matt
Murdock, the team's attorney. Matt, secretly the blind Doom quickly discovered that the Fantastic Four was
hero known as Daredevil , was given power of attorney to powerless and decided to toy with his foes and enjoy his
continue the work of the team 's charitable foundation enemies' misfortune. With Daredevil acting as a decoy to
should anything happen. draw Doom 's fire, the Fantastic Four made their way to
the Baxter Building. Reed hoped to use an experimental
Meanwhile, Dr. Doom was being entertained in machine in the building that could restore their powers.
Latveria by a magician, still believing he had defeated
Mr. Fantastic in their last encounter. The magician tried Daredevil managed to sneak into the room where
to hypnotize Doom for his act and discovered that he was Doom was and quickly engaged the armored villain in a
already under another spell of hypnosis. He removed the battle. While the Fantastic Four took the elevator towards
illusion of Richards' victory and Doom now knew that he the 35th floor, Daredevil kept Doom occupied, buying the
had actually been defeated. He set out again, more team time to reach the top floors. Doom managed, in the
determined than ever, to destroy the FF. middle of his fight with Daredevil, to push a button to
destroy the elevator. The Fantastic Four escaped the trap
Dr. Doom, not knowing of the team's weakness or the and climbed up one more flight to their destination. Ben
presence of Matt Murdock, struck when the team at their and Johnny attacked Doom in their normal human forms
weakest. He landed his Gyroscopic Aircraft on top of the with no effect other than giving Daredevil a rest.

33

Reed and Sue made it to the stimulator machine and it Beware the Power Cosmic
restored their powers. Richards quickly grabbed Ben Doom always made it a habit to know everything there
from the clutches of Doom and irradiated Johnny, was to know about beings of incredible power on the
restoring his flaming powers. To fight the Torch, Doom Earth. Soon after Galactus' first coming to Earth, Doom
used the refrigeration unit in the room, freezing the became aware of his exiled herald, the Silver Surfer.
foursome and Daredevil in the process. Reed countered
by opening a high-pressure steam valve, thawing the Realizing the power to be found in such a pawn, Victor
heroes out, but the steam and confusion allowed Dr. prepared a plan to make such power his own . Within
Doom to escape to another part of the building. months of his arrival on Earth, the Silver Surfer came to
rest on one of the mountains close to Castle Doom. Dr.
Ben once again had to become the monstrous Thing Doom noticed him and sent a royal summons to the alien
again in order for them to stop Dr. Doom. He found Doom being, inviting him to the castle. The Surfer accepted out
putting together pieces of Reed's nuclear devices to of curiosity and flew to the castle. Once there, Dr. Doom
make a bomb. In a fierce battle, the Thing, fueled by his questioned the Surfer, learning as much as possible
anger at Doom for forcing him back into this monstrous about his visitor's energy powers.
body, exhausted Doom's defenses and crushed Doom 's
hands and parts of his armor. Richards stopped him , Dr. Doom led the Surfer through Castle Doom , partially
saying that they weren't murderers and that Doom still convincing him that Doom worked for the benefit of
had diplomatic immunity. Besides, Victor had suffered mankind, not its domination. The tour continued until a
his worst defeat-Ben had broken his spirit and crushed
lone monitor captured the Surfer's attention with a view
his pride. of the vast reaches of space. The herald's thoughts
After his humiliation at the Baxter Building, Dr. Doom
focussed on space, Dr. Doom had an apparatus clamped
lay low, allowing his physical wounds to heal and his onto him and he caught the Surfer unawares, draining all
hate to burn even brighter. Not content to wait and face of the Surfer's cosmic energy through his own equipment
them when he regained his strength, Dr. Doom and into Doom's body. With the stolen Power Cosmic,
Doom also gained control of the Surfer's board as well.
coordinated an attack on the Fantastic Four during Reed
and Sue's wedding. Using his high-frequency Emotion Flushed with power, Dr. Doom immediately set off on
Charger, Doom attracted a multitude of supervillains to the board to destroy the Fantastic Four. He attacked the
the wedding and caused all of them to attack the heroes. Thing first and defeated him by using vibration rays from
Fortunately for the new couple, many friends and heroes his eyes to transform his foe into a living statue. He
were at the wedding as well; while the wedding continued his assault with the Invisible Girl, Mr.
preparations proceeded , the Avengers, the original Fantastic, and the Torch, the three proving no match for
X-Men , and many other heroes kept the villains from Doom 's power. His greatest enemies at his mercy, he
ruining the day. Reed finally got a machine with the help decided to let them live the rest of their lives out in
of the Watcher and sent all the attacking foes temporarily hopelessness, knowing that they had been beaten easily.
into the past where they wouldn 't be affected by Dr. With typical arrogance, he dismissed them as not even
important enough for him to destroy.
Doom's machine.
Doom 's hands quickly healed, and he immediately Doom flew around the Earth, proving his superiority to
the masses by causing chaos and destruction
baited the Avengers to come to Latveria in search of everywhere he went. Altering an island paradise into a
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch's long-lost aunt. Doom frozen wasteland was only one of Doom's displays of

hoped to defeat the Avengers in order to intimidate the might, causing world-wide panic. Doom easily defended
Fantastic Four, his real foes. The Avengers quickly himself and Latveria against various countries (and one
discovered the ruse, and Doom trapped them within impetuous Human Torch) intent on stopping him. All the
Doomstadt. They swiftly fought and defeated Victor in while, Reed was feverishly working on a device to stop
Castle Doom and escaped his vengeful clutches. the seemingly all-powerful Doom .

34

For a time, it seemed that the power had overwhelmed Recently returned to Latveria, Dr. Doom was studying
Victor, his actions and deeds with the Power Cosmic holographic recordings of his last encounter with the
bordering on madness. Unfortunately, his plan soon Fantastic Four when the images came to life and
became known-Doom was preparing to take over the attacked him. Using his armor, Dr. Doom easily defeated
rule of every country in the world, his shows of power the images, the images apparently brought to life by the
demonstrating that no one could stop him. The Fantastic
Four arrived in Latveria and fought Doom, trying to stall alchemist Diablo. Diablo offered an alliance but Doom
Doom for as long as possible. Just when Doom tired of refused, saying that his destiny and his ambitions are his
fighting his old foes, Reed 's fully operational Anti-Cosmic own. They fought to a standstill until Diablo conjured the
Flying Wing appeared and drained some of Doom's image of a woman trapped by bonds of energy. Doom
power. It drained only some of the power, causing Doom recognized the woman from his past-Valeria, his
to believe that the invention had failed. In his triumph , childhood playmate grown into a beautiful woman.
Doom raced after the wing to destroy it with a cosmic
bolt. Richards had planned on this and had programmed Diablo threatened Doom with harming the captive
the wing to head out of the Earth's atmosphere. Doom woman if he did not comply with his wishes. Diablo
raced toward outer space, and ran headlong into the disappeared, promising to return shortly for Doom's
invisible barrier around the Earth set by Galactus to decision. Dr. Doom reminisced on his past love, but
enforce the Surfer's exile. The empty board returned to believed that no one, not even he, could love such a
Castle Doom, restoring it and the Power Cosmic to its scarred and disfigured person like Doom. Diablo
true owner. Doom set himself up as a god and truly fell returned and, not wishing Valeria any harm, Doom
from grace and power. agreed to be his partner for the present.

Dance with the Devils Dr. Doom found Diablo and Valeria ensconced in his
After months of recovery from re-entry (protected by his castle in upstate New York. Diablo's plan was ambitious
armor), Victor decided to defeat the Fantastic Four by and thoroughly deadly: use Doom's Time Machine to go
posing as Daredevil. He would gain his revenge upon into the past and launch a multitude of satellites into orbit
Daredevil for his role in the battle for the Baxter Building around Earth, holding the world hostage with the threat
and it would lead to the defeat his greatest foe, Reed of instant annihilation and establishing themselves as
Richards. Capturing Daredevil and bringing him to the rulers. While Diablo revealed his plan, Dr. Doom threw up
Latverian embassy's hidden basement, he used a Mind a force field around himself and Valeria, easily shattering
transferral device to switch bodies with the blind her bonds simultaneously.
superhero. The device artificially harnessed the ability
taught to him by the Ovoids years earlier. Diablo and Doom fought once again. With Diablo
thinking that he had lured Doom onto the Time Machine
Doom locked up Daredevil and went to destroy Reed platform, the alchemist threw the switch to hurl Doom
and his friends. Daredevil , in Doom's body, easily into the timestream . Unknown to Diablo, however, Doom
escaped his prison but couldn't warn the FF about had altered the machine's controls and Diablo was
Doom's pending attack. Daredevil was, however, able to haplessly hurled through the timestream, emerging eons
pose as Dr. Doom and ordered Latveria to wage war on
all its bordering nations. The real Doom, not wanting to into the future to a barren, decimated Earth.
so endanger his country, swiftly returned to the embassy In his arrogance and misplaced passion, Doom
and reversed the mind-transfer. Daredevil smashed the
machine to prevent Doom from using it again. Doom assumed that he and Valeria would try to rekindle their
allowed Daredevil to leave unscathed. love and reclaim the lifetime together they had missed.
Valeria surprisingly told him not to touch her. She had
witnessed him gloating over the defeat of Diablo and
realized that nothing of the Victor she had known
remained, only the dreaded power-mad Dr. Doom was
there. She left, vowing they'd never meet again.

35

Battleground Latveria chamber specially prepared for his concerto on a special
After a prolonged battle in the Great Refuge against piano which could attack targets with hyper-sound. The
Maximus, the Fantastic Four (Reed Richards, Thing, team made its way through the halls of Castle Doom with
Torch, Crystal) was flying back to New York to see Sue little resistance until the two female members of the
and Franklin when intercepted by Nick Fury. He had in Fantastic Four were separated from the men by a trap
his possession a purple robotic hand, a mere part of a door. While Mr. Fantastic, the Thing and the Torch fought
secret robot army being formed in Europe. He asked the through more robots and guards, the women were sitting
Fantastic Four to help stop the creation of that army. The down to a quiet dinner with Doo.m.
heroes recognized their enemy's handiwork and headed
toward Latveria. They entered Latveria, waiting for Doom Doom was preparing to play a composition of his own
when in the adjoining art gallery, Hauptmann had
to capture them. A robot army easily succeeded in discovered that Doom's official portrait painter was
capturing the FF despite some resistance. actually an agent of SHIELD. Armed with a flame
thrower, the loyal aide attempted to kill the spy, but the
Each of the Fantastic Four woke up in luxurious male members of the Fantastic Four tried to stop him.
surroundings more fit for a hotel than a prison . While Hauptmann, trying to win favor with Doom, decided to
they were unconscious, Dr. Doom subjected them to his douse the entire gallery with flame and kill everyone in
Hypno-persuader, which had caused the Fantastic Four the room. Dr. Doom watched Hauptmann and the heroes
to lose the use of their powers through hypnosis. The on hidden monitors and couldn't allow his servant to
heroes were treated as honored guests in Doomstadt. Dr. destroy the priceless works of art collected in that room .
Doom was preparing an army of invincible robots and, as Instead of using it against his sworn enemies, Dr. Doom
the final test, he planned to release them against the directed the Hyper-sound from his piano directly at
village. Before Doom could ready his contingency plans, Hauptmann, the forces killing the lackey. Doom allowed
the robots got out of control, escaped from the castle, the Fantastic Four to leave, saying that he was weary of
and headed for the village to destroy it. the game. No one lost and no one won, but they had only
survived to fight another day.
Whether it was due to the stress of the situation or the
strength of will of the heroes, the Fantastic Four slowly Historian's note: Current histories of Latveria have yet to
regained their powers as they fought the robots. The officially mention the destruction of Doomstadt in writing.
fight was long and difficult until Reed deduced that the A number of theories prevail, none of which has met with
robots were too heavy to swim, and the robots were then sparkling approval from the Master. The first suggests
herded toward the nearby lake. When Dr. Doom realized that Doomstadt was destroyed by the American SHIELD
that the FF was near triumph again, he revealed to agency, fearing the robot army's destructive power. A
Hauptmann, his senior scientist, that he had planted second theory proposes that Doomstadt's buildings were
huge amounts of deadly explosives beneath the village. all due for demolition and Doom did just that while
executing a village filled only with criminals. The third
Doom, in his rush to destroy the FF, detonated the theory says that Doomstadt's populace was removed and
explosive devices without thinking of his people. In his replaced by robots, fooling the Fantastic Four into
rage to decimate his hated foes, he caused the deaths of wasting time protecting others instead of themselves.
The only truth known in this matter is that 800/o of
more citizens of Latveria in one instant than at any time Doomstadt was destroyed that day, and it still hasn't
since Latveria's bloody civil wars. One small section of rebuilt itself to one-third of its former size to this day.
the village survived the explosion, protected by the Reed Richards asserts that the account given above is
arriving Invisible Girl's force field . Sue saved the true, and suggests that the surviving villagers have been
Fantastic Four and many of the villagers, a contingency hypno-persuaded into forgetting the entire incident.
Doom hadn't accounted for in his plans.

The five heroes stormed Doom's castle, where their

foe was preparing a cultural reception for them. Dr.
Doom wanted them to reach his music room , the

36

Months later, after overseeing the reconstruction of Rebels and Revenge
Doomstadt by his robots, Dr. Doom was in the Latverian
Dr. Doom was attempting to create the ultimate
embassy in New York when the Sub-Mariner weapon-a super-powered being powered by cosmic
inadvertantly took shelter there. Victor tried to attract the rays with the same brain patterns as Doom himself. With
Sub-Mariner as a partner, wanting to use the Atlantean an army of these beings, Doom thought he could
army as a major force to conquer the world , but Namor
refused such an alliance. Doom captured Namor by conquer and rule t he world. This project was being
using heat rays that dehydrated him and restrained him conducted deep within the lower levels of Castle Doom.
with metal tendrils. Namor desperately tore his bonds in
half, the resulting arcing electricity sparking off a blaze In old catacombs somewhere beneath the Latverian
within the embassy. Firefighters arrived on the scene and kingdom, Prince Rudolfo planned his rebellion and
sprayed water through a window, luckily dousing the revenge upon Doom, basing his plan upon a girl named
Sub-Mariner. The water gave him enough strength to Ramona. She quickly gained entry to the castle by
break through the walls and escape Doom's trap. staging an accident, but Doom quickly unearthed the
truth about her by using his Hypno-Probe-she had been
Also, during this relatively peaceful time for Victor, he planted here to aid Rudolfo regain the throne. Later freed
constructed what has been considered the ultimate from the hypno-probe's influence by a transmitter
strategic computer-the Prime Mover. This machine implant, she interrupted Dr. Doom while he programmed
limited in movement by its attachments to a large ' the Doomsman with his brain patterns and actually saw
computer, essentially plays games with the doctor, its first Doom's unmasked face. She took the chance to destroy
Doom's equipment, plunging the castle into darkness
game involving the manipulations of the fledgling and signalling the start of Rudolfo's attack on the castle.
SHIELD organization and the Yellow Claw. Since its
creation, the Prime Mover has even tested its skills Meanwhile, the Doomsman was bathed in cosmic
against the ultimate game-player-the Grandmaster. energy run rampant and came to life. The android easily
snapped his chains and broke out of the castle,
A few weeks later, a young woman named Cosette was disappearing into the darkness before Doom could
picketing outside the Latverian embassy, protesting establish control over him. The battle for the castle was
Doom's tyrannical rule. The Asgardian Avenger Thor fierce and seemed too close for any to claim victory. Just
saved the woman from a mob angry about her a~ Rudolfo believed he had destroyed Doom, he was
protest- they didn 't want any trouble . After her rescue d1stract~d an~ confused by hologran:is and robots. Using
Thor, in his identity as Don Blake, heard the following ' these d1stract1ons, Doom defeated his foes with an aural
story. D?om had captured her father, Professor Lafarge, hypno-probe to place them under his control from afar.
and, using her as a hostage, forced him to work on
missile silos. Years later, she was able to escape, and The captured Rudolfo was soon revealed as a
has been trying to liberate her father since.
robot-the very robot Doom built to impersonate Rudolfo
Don Blake was kidnapped to Latveria when Doom ~t his coronation! While the real Rudolfo had languished
in a dungeon cell, the robot had abdicated the throne of
thought the doctor able to fix Doom's ravaged face with Latveria to Dr. Doom. The night of Doom 's coronation,
plastic surgery. When this was found to be a hoax Blake both Rudolfo and the robot were liberated from the
was imprisoned ; he later managed to escape as Thor. clutches of Doom . Instead of surrendering any further
Doom and Thor eventually fought each other, with Thor information, the robot flung himself through a wooden
emerging as the victor. The missile silos were also door, and a guard blasted the fleeing robot, destroying it.
destroyed by Thor, though his rescue attempt ended in
tragedy as Cosette's father succumbed to greed, wanting In the mean time, the rebel leaders-Rudolfo and the
to stay only for Doom's money-he was killed by his own Faceless One-had attained an uneasy alliance with the
bullets deflected by Thor while resisting his rescue. wandering Doomsman. Armed with weapons provided by
the Faceless One, the rebels attacked again. This time,
they defeated the robot guards and forced the real Doom

37

to enter the fray. While Doom was on the battlefield, the -
Faceless One and the Doomsman snuck into the castle.
Doom raced back to his castle to find the previously In Doom's absence, the Red Skull and his minions
captured rebels escaping. He confronted the Faceless invaded the Latverian capital in an attempt to take over a
One and their personal forcefields negated each other's country with a population easily molded by their
attacks. Then the Faceless One called forth the leadership. Since Doom had also been a dictator here,
Doomsman to aid in his fight against Doom . the Red Skull assumed that the citizens were no better
than sheep who would blindly follow any master. They
Dr. Doom, in a desperate attempt to stop the succeeded in taking the castle and consequently the
Doomsman, performed a Mind Fusion. Since the country of Latveria.
android's brain shared Doom's brain patterns, the action
succeeded and Doom took control of his creation. They Doom returned to Latveria and was immediately
then attacked the Faceless One. During the fight, it was attacked by his own guards. He quickly found out who
revealed that the Faceless One was an alien, its true was behind the coup, but was unexpectedly captured by
body being a sphere with six spider-like legs. The the Skull's forces. Doom woke up encased in an
creature initially escaped and took over Doom's adamantine sarcophagus, the Skull placing him on
weapons. Using the arsenal at its disposal, the Faceless public display to humiliate his foe. While trapped , Doom
One bombarded Doom with every weapon it could call absorbed the sun's rays through the adamantine shell,
upon to use. Doom disappeared and his foes thought he and his thermo-energizer in his armor absorbed enough
was defeated. heat to break free of his prison .

Rudolfo immediately was proclaimed the liege of Doom blasted his way beneath the wall of his castle
Latveria, but his reign was extremely short-lived. A huge and entered the grounds through a secret underground
visage of Doom appeared in the sky, telling the "victors" passage. Cutting off the main power and going above, he
they had won the dominion of an earthquake. As the defeated them all and knocked them unconscious with a
castle rested upon a fault line and Doom had activated a
vibration machine, Castle Doom was destroyed and the
rebellion crushed. A group of the rebels, including
Rudolfo, escaped with their lives.

After calling the Doomsman to him through Mind
Fusion, Dr. Doom released his creation from control.
Victor knew he could not stop the creature from
constantly attacking him when his guard was down and
Doom was forced to teleport the android to another
dimension, where it was to remain forevermore.

Rise of the Red Skull
With the destruction of the rebellion complete, Doom
began the reconstruction of Castle Doom. Giving his
plans over to his minions, Doom went to the Riviera while
his castle was being completed, preferring not to dirty his
hands with menial construction work best left to robots.
After being accused of rigging games of chance with his
electronic armor, Doom destroyed a casino as a lesson .
Doom quickly found the vacation spot of Europe's jet set
uninteresting and returned to Latveria.

38

stream of gas. When the Skull and his allies awoke, they Dr. Doom rarely stopped at capturing technology or
found themselves reduced to mere inches in size. Doom rare elements in his research-why design
put them in a small rocket and sent it flying off into the
distance. They were actually hypnotized into believing world-shattering weapons yourself when others can do
they were tiny, an illusion that would wear off by the time the job for you? Doom kidnapped Dr. Bruce Banner in
they reached their destination. order to design a defensive system of gamma bombs to
supposedly eradicate enemies amassing to attack his
Soon after this, Doom also began the restoration and borders. Doom managed to temporarily control Banner's
updating of Baron Drassen's abandoned castle as a rampaging alter-ego, the Hulk, but not even Victor Von
secondary home, to be used in the future if Castle Doom Doom could contain the power of the gamma-spawned
were again damaged. Doom kept his active use of this creature tor long. Banner escaped Doom's clutches as
castle a secret from all but a few people. the Hulk without revealing the gamma-bomb secrets to
the Master of Latveria.
Black Panthers and Behemoths
Doom was always in search of cutting edge technology Role Reversal
and the many secrets of others. Through various At certain times during his life, Victor has found himself
methods, Doom found that the rare vibration-absorbing allied with those he often considers his foes, a greater
element Vibranium was located only in the African evil or threat to humanity forcing the armored villain onto
country of Wakanda. Using a nuclear powered excavator common ground with heroes. The Fantastic Four first
to tunnel his way to Wakanda, Doom planned to steal allied with Doom in a battle with the Overmind, an alien
Vibranium to construct missiles that would never be set who controlled the minds of others. When Reed Richards
off-course by vibrations (a problem that has long since fell under his influence, the rest of the team tried to find
been corrected). ways to defeat the Overmind and their erstwhile leader.
Having exhausted any chance of aid from the superhero
Upon arriving in Wakanda, Dr. Doom caused a slight community, Susan Richards, with the help of Agatha
earthquake and awakened a dormant volcano by his Harkness, sought an alliance with Dr. Doom.
underground activity. Wakanda's King T'Challa, the
Black Panther, rushed to investigate these occurrences Initially denying her plea, Doom decided to help them
and confronted Doom underground. Confronted by after Sue's accusation of being petty and afraid injured
T'Challa with one of Wakanda's advanced energy his pride and vanity. Doom manufactured a psionic
weapons, Doom challenged the king to personal retractor (a machine partially based on Reed's research)
hand-to-hand combat. Not fully knowing the capabilities which flung the Overmind's mental bolts back at him .
of Doom's armor, T'Challa was baited into putting his The three Fantastic Four members and Doom acted as a
weapon down and was quickly subdued by a force bolt team but were ultimately defeated by the Overmind.
from Doom . They delayed him long enough, however, for the
Stranger to appear and banish him to a microverse
Mechanical problems slowed Doom's approach to the within a dust mote. As expected, the alliance of Doom
metal Vibranium, allowing enough time for the Black and his hated enemies dissolved with the Overmind's
threat and Victor vowed that at their next meeting, they
Panther to escape his captor. After escaping the ship, would once again be foes.
T'Challa threatened to shoot the vibranium with a potent
energy weapon unless Doom agreed to leave and Doom 's next power play teamed him with an amnesiac
renounce any efforts to gain it. The metal was highly Sub-Mariner in a scheme to recover the Cosmic Cube.
unstable in its unrefined state and would have exploded, Together, they investigated an allegedly abandoned
killing Doom and the Panther. Doom acquiesced and left, A.l.M. headquarters off the coast of New Orleans. In the
leaving T'Challa to wonder if he actually would have shot city, Doom rescued Namor from an encounter with the
his nation's main source of power.

39

police and captured his female companion Cindy as well. save the planet from Franklin 's mutant powers gone wild.
To further his plans, Doom forced the Sub-Mariner to Due to this, the team temporarily disbanded, Sue left
help him by holding Cindy as a hostage. Interestingly, Reed and took Franklin away to help him recover.
Doom felt remorse about forcing Namor into an alliance
when he might have had his aid willingly as a friend; this The Thing went to the Balkans where his girlfriend
may have come from his recent work with the Fantastic Alicia Masters was having an operation to restore her
Four, seeing how they were all close friends and Doom sight. After dropping her off at the hospital, the Thing
never having such friends or allies.
was attacked by Darkoth, the Death-Demon. Unknown to
The trio encountered MODOK in the A.l.M. base and , the Thing, Darkoth was only considered a superstitious
while Doom was busy battling MODOK and his minions, legend in Latveria. The Thing won the initial battle but
the Sub-Mariner released the Cube's energies so no one Darkoth disappeared at the end of the fight.
could utilize its powers. His plans defeated, Doom
abandoned his alliance with the amphibian prince. Alicia went into the operating room, but after three
hours, Ben Grimm got suspicious enough to burst in. He
Heroes and Demons found an empty room, empty except for the
Over the years, Doom has collected his power from
Death-Demon. The fight ended with Darkoth capturing
many sources: his own technology and magic, the both Alicia and the mighty Thing for his Master.
technology of others (such as the recently lost Cosmic
Cube), his skill in manipulating his allies, and his Back in New York, Reed Richards and Medusa-a
knowledge of his enemies. The last point has always member of the FF at the time-were attending Richards'
been the mark of a great opponent, and Doom is nothing college reunion with Sam Thorne, an old college friend,
but a great foe. His methods for collecting data on and his wife. They were led to a private room and
current and potential foes vary greatly but tend to be very
covert, using information record taps and standard reunited with another college " friend," Dr. Doom. Having
espionage tactics. Every so often, Doom takes a more caught the two heroes off guard, Doom subdued all four
personal hand, using specially designed robots to find people easily. He took them down to a hidden complex
out whatever possible on a foe. One of his more detailed where the Thing and Darkoth were prisoners.
investigations involved Luke Cage A.K.A. Power Man.
Richards woke up and Doom explained his latest plan
When Power Man first became a known "hero for to his enemy. Calling it Operation Babel, he planned to
hire," Doom used a variety of tactics to obtain knowledge launch a Vibration Bomb into space and activate it,
of the fledgling hero of the streets. Hired to eliminate or causing every person's mind to become a blank slate
return four rogue robots of Doom's, Luke Cage was that Doom could easily control.
double-crossed and flew to Latveria to get paid for his
efforts. Instead, he fell into another rebellion attempt by Meanwhile, Darkoth had escaped his prison and was
the Faceless One against Doom; though he was helped attacking his jailers when Doom arrived and calmed the
by the Faceless One against Doom's robots, Luke monster down. He also told the Death Demon his true
prevented him from killing Doom. The alien disappeared origin, that he wasn't really a demon, just a man that
once again, and Cage departed from Latveria after being Doom had chemically and biologically experimented on.
paid for his help.
The Human Torch and Wyatt Wingfoot were in jail for
After months of planning and preparation, Doom dropping the Fantasti-Car on a police cruiser. Dr. Doom
launched an insidious plan which would strike the
Fantastic Four down while they were at their weakest. broke into the jail, defeated the Torch and Wingfoot and
Reed was forced to shut down his own child 's mind to brought them back to his hidden base. He wanted to
defeat all of the FF, not just parts of the team.

Meanwhile, Darkoth , upon hearing that Doom actually
made the Demon persona by manipulating his chemical
structure and then using the vibration device to
brainwash him , rebelled against his " creator". He broke
the imprisoned Fantastic Four members out of their cells
and they headed toward the Baxter Building through the

40

sewers of New York. They encountered the Seeker, a In a castle spire, the Surfer found "Shalla-Bal." It was
huge robot sent by Doom's lackeys to bring back the quickly revealed that she had amnesia and that she was
escaped prisoners. The Thing took the creature out with the wife of the monarch there, Dr. Doom . Doom sent the
a mighty blow and Mr. Fantastic thought of a use of the Surfer to destroy the FF, promising to restore Shalla-Bal
Seeker. They continued toward the Baxter Building. to him if successful. While the Surfer was fighting the FF,
Dr. Doom mused that, while he did so once, wielding
Doom loaded the bomb onto a rocket and launched it such power didn't befit a man of his stature. Controlling
as the Fantastic Four got back to their headquarters. The that power was more to his liking.
first wave of the Vibration bomb struck the world. In two
hours, Dr. Doom would rule the planet. The Surfer couldn 't bring himself to kill the FF, but he
brought them to Latveria as helpless captives. Since he
Unknown to him or his sensors, the Seeker reentered didn't fulfill his mission, Doom kept Shalla-Bal in his
Doom's lair, and encountered no resistance because the power and imprisoned the four heroes in Castle Doom.
perimeter's sensors were programmed for unknown
beings. Now reprogrammed by Richards, the Seeker During their imprisonment, Doom managed to analyze
freed both the Torch and Wyatt. Darkoth had followed the and siphon away some of the Surfer's Power Cosmic
Seeker and the Death-Demon confronted Doom. After a without his notice. When the quartet managed to free
brief clash, Doom retreated to his control room and themselves, Dr. Doom had put this power to use in his
launched himself into space where he could run the latest creation: the Doomsman II! This Doomsman , with
Vibration Bomb unmolested. Unknown to anyone, power exceeding any previous robot faced by the FF,
Darkoth had stowed away on the ship and battled Doom easily began pummelling them to defeat again.
once more, this time in orbit around the globe. The
off-course spaceship collided with the Vibration Bomb In another part of the castle, the Surfer and
Satellite, destroying both vessels. " Shalla-Bal" were talking. During their interlude, the
girl's memory returned, but only revealed that she was a
Doom fell from orbit, plummeting into the ocean after Latverian peasant that Dr. Doom had found to manipulate
the battle with his creation, Darkoth, and surviving the Surfer into doing his own bidding. With renewed
re-entry due to his wondrous armor. He was found vigor, the Surfer raced to the battle and joined the
floating unconscious in the sea by the Sub-Mariner. Fantastic Four against the Doomsman. With his added
Using a device on his ship, Namor revived Doom and power, they managed to subdue their foe and confront
offered to ally himself with the Monarch of Latveria. After Doom himself. The melee was brought to a close to
thinking about the offer, Doom came to the conclusion protect the national art treasures housed at the castle;
that eventually one of them would betray the other so the unbeknownest even to Doom , his female pawn actually
answer was no. They had a brief fight and Doom fled was Shalla Bal under the manipulations of Mephisto.
Namor's ship. The Sub-Mariner vowed that one day they
would be allies and rule the world together. Alliance with Atlantis
At this time in their history, the entire populace of Atlantis
Building a Better Ooomsman were all in a sleeplike stasis, victims of nerve toxins that
Doom was monitoring the Silver Surfer when the the Sub-Mariner accidentally released during a battle.
Doom arrived in his own inimicable fashion , his androids
former herald of Galactus attempted to break Galactus' attacking the helpless city and drawing Namor from his
barrier; he was repelled and fell to Earth, landing in reverie. Doom has reconsidered the Sub-Mariner's
Latveria. There, the Surfer saw the picture of the request for allegiance and Namor went to Latveria to seal
country's queen-she looked exactly like his lost love, the alliance. There, Namor was introduced to the
Shalla-Bal! Determined to find out if it was actually her, androids that served Doom at the time.
the Silver Surfer flew to the castle, only to find the
Fantastic Four fighting a group of guards. While the
Surfer hesitated, the four were revealed to be robots.

41

The androids had set up an altar to an unknown god, Given both of their strong wills and shorter tempers, it
the beginnings of a rudimentary religion, which Dr. Doom is amazing the Scion of the Seas and the Master of
dismissed as a flaw in the makeup of his new androids. Latveria ever maintained any alliances at all . Indeed,
However, a blue android had been fomenting dissent Namor and Doom soon disagreed again and parted
among these new androids, and the altar was for him. ways. Doom thought the most destructive demon that
The blue android who led the others in revolt called possessed the Sub-Mariner was pride.

himself Andro, Lord of the Androids. In truth , he was the After watching tapes of all his past defeats and
original Doomsman, returned to haunt his creator. stalemates with his foes, Doom concluded that he and
the Sub-Mariner should be allies instead of trying to
Andro was inadvertantly freed from his prison make Namor his pawn. To accomplish this, Dr. Doom
dimension by the Thing and Lockjaw, the lnhuman 's sent a metallic fish-shaped camera to follow Namor.
teleporting effect washing over the android. Andro Doom would help his future ally when needed and out of
quickly analyzed the energy, in the process learning how a sense of obligation would ally himself willingly with the
to travel through the dimensions at will. monarch of Latveria.

Doom and Namor fought against Doom 's own rebelling Namor had gone to visit his friends at Hydrobase, but
androids, the final confrontation between the Doomsman found the island conquered by three of his old foes, Tiger
and Doom himself. After much battle, there was a Shark, Dr. Dorcas and Attuma. He put up a valiant fight
standoff, proving to Andro he could be Doom's equal. His
mission accomplished, the Doomsman teleported away. against them , but lost in the end. Doom, having watched
After this disastrous affair (and later failures with other all of this transpire, sped to Hydrobase and his itinerant

androids), Doom stopped using synthetic beings and ally's aid. Doom's armor protected him from the electrical
implemented wholely mechanical servants again. defenses that felled Namor, as it also helped him defeat
a troop of automated Octo-Meks.

Dr. Doom encountered and allied himself with the now
amphibious Betty Dean Prentiss in order to find Namor.
Doom attempted to sneak up on the villains and free the
chained Namor, but their scanners had already spotted
his craft and they were waiting for him. In the chamber,
Dr. Dorcas slapped Betty in anger and this sent Namor
into a rage. Dorcas levelled his weapon to kill his captive
foe, but Betty jumped in front of the blast to protect her
former love, and was killed. Namor broke free just in time
to cradle his dead friend in his arms.

The Sub-Mariner went berserk and attacked all of the
villains, but he was still being beaten until Doom stepped
in. He stunned all of them and teleported himself and
Namor to his ship. Returning to Latveria to plan a
counter attack, Namor and Doom argued over method
and motivations. Even in alliance, these two Avenging
Sons quarreled.

Doom prepared them for battle against Hydrobase and
worked out a specific plan for the two of them. During the
carefully executed attack, Namor had all his foes
immobilized with one of Doom 's weapons. Before they

42

became completely helpless, however, he smashed the Namor flew to New York, but after trying for the allottect
weapon in anger, declaring that this was not vengeance, time span, Richards couldn't solve the puzzle of Namor's
and thereby freeing Dorcas, Tiger Shark and Attuma. damaged gill and lung structure. The Sub-Mariner
Then, he launched himself into them, pounding at them became Doom 's prisoner and slave as Doom teleported
with fists. Namor to his domain. Gloating on his mastery over
Namor, he threatened to let him die slowly and in agony,
Despite this setback and depleting energy reserves, if he did not acquiesce to Doom 's orders and reaffirm his
Doom survived to heartlessly kill his captors as Namor vow. The Sub-Mariner complied.
defeated his own . With Namor watching after the battle,
Doom hypnotized the old jester, Saru-san, who had The Fantastic Four flew to Latveria to rescue Namor
taunted him when Attuma's soldiers had him d'own . He from the clutches of Doom. They got through the
ordered the helpless fool to explode two cannisters he defenses and defeated Doom's android army. The
had found on the beach . Saru-san complied, instantly mysterious Shroud, in a craft of his own, slipped into
killing himself. Viewing this, Namor wondered what type Latveria amidst all this confusion. Before his army's total
of soulless monster he had as an ally. Doom warned defeat, Doom ordered Namor to stop the Fantastic Four,
Namor that if his emotions ever got the better of him a fight Namor lost and the angry heroes confronted the
again, that Doom would turn on him and dissolve the armored despot in his castle.
alliance. Dr. Doom turned his back on the Sub-Mariner,
insulting the already upset Namor, and they clashed During the FF's rescue attempt, Doom was showing an
again , tempers flaring . official visitor around his castle and demonstrating some
of his inventions for him. He produced the current U.S.
A passing U.S. Navy ship became both spectator and Secretary of State, who told the Fantastic Four to do
target of this skirmish. It spotted the fight on the atoll what Doom requested. The U.S. had just signed a
from a distance, coming quickly into the fray as Namor non-aggression pact with Latveria and, having done so,
threw Doom into the ship, ripping a large hole in its side. couldn 't interfere with latverian internal affairs. Given
A scientist, Captain Ryker, who happened to need power the new alliance of Atlantis and latveria, the world was
to fuel his experiment, placed a power drainer on the taking a closer look at the powers wielded by the Balkan
unsuspecting Doom 's head just as the monarch of dictator and bringing Doom into the political theater.
Latveria had blasted Namor out of the sky. The drain
worked, but caused a powerful explosion. In his elation A Shroud for Doom
with killing Namor, Doom spared the man's life and flew When the Sub-Mariner went back to his chambers, he
off, saying that he needed no man to ally himself with. found an upstart hero, the mysterious Shroud, was
waiting for him. This neophyte hero had dedicated his life
Duty, Honor, Country to the eradication of crime. To make a name for himself
Abandoning his plans to ally with the amphibian as a crimefighter, he planned to rid the world of Dr.
monarch, Doom quickly sought to place him under his Doom . Namor, his spirit broken by being subjugated to
iron heel. In quick succession, Victor managed to cripple the status of Doom's slave, thought him insane and
Namor's suit, designed by Reed Richards to keep him wouldn't help the new hero.
alive while out of water, and he also threatened to
destroy the dormant city of Atlantis unless Namor swore Soon enough , the Shroud made his first move and
unquestioning allegiance to him or the city would be attacked Dr. Doom. Doom initially thought this young
leveled. Namor agreed for the sake of his helpless hero's attack was a joke, but it became a serious battle
people. To further break Namor's will, Doom offered one quickly. The Shroud attached a magnesium bomb to
chance to escape: given a liquid that restored his ability Doom's chest plate, causing it to heat up and threaten to
to breate air for 24 hours, Namor could get out of his damage Doom himself. The monarch tore off his chest
promise if Reed Richards could repair his damaged suit. plate to escape the searing heat just as a pack of
bloodthirsty hounds attacked him, dragging themselves

43

and Doom off a cliff. Believing that he had killed Doom , The Vision was freed by the combined effort of the
the Shroud went back and told Namor that he was free to Scarlet Witch and Captain America. He immediately flew
leave Latveria. His obligation to Doom was now over. to Doom, and postulated that they were all being used by
Attuma. They agreed and became allies against a
The Shroud and Namor raced to the Shroud's hidden common foe. The Avengers and Doom defeated Attuma.
aircraft, but found it being destroyed by the peasants of
Latveria. Someone had discovered the craft and reported After the battles on Hydrobase, Doom was prevented
it to the authorities. Boris and Gregor, the Burgermeister, from taking an important scientific device when th~
were at the sight of the destruction, supervising the Vision destroyed the device. Doom flew off, pledging to
operation. The two heroes were discovered and the see the Vision taken apart, piece by piece (A vow fulfilled
peasants gave chase. Fleeing into the countryside, they years later by many of the world's govermnments to
found a smaller, unexpected village that happened to protect their computers from the Vision's mind tap; who
have a visiting circus camped there. It happened to be is to say the directive to dismantle the Vision didn't come
the Circus of Crime, but a quick skirmish convinced the from the Latverians?).
Ringmaster to let them join in disguise.
During the mop up operations after a later battle, .
Doom woke up to the faces of Namor's friends, Captain America found a scepter on the body of a pilot. A
Namorita and Tamara. He was on their ship, having been spectroscopic analysis confirmed that the metal came
rescued and healed after his fall and fight with the from Latveria, yet the scepter had a swastika and skull
hounds. Doom almost convinced the two that he and on it. Cap broke into the Latverian Embassy in New York
Namor were still allies, but they decided to pilot a ship to and faced Doom , who became as upset and angry as the
Doom's castle and look at the situation in person. After
they arrived at the underground dock and Doom learned hero about the object.
from an underling that Namor had escaped, Doom rashly Meanwhile, in Latveria, the Shroud was now in league
flung the minion down the corridor, causing Namorita_and
Tamara to distrust their prisoner even further. To regain with the deposed Prince Rudolpho. Disguised as Dr.
the womens' trust, he went with them to Hydrobase to Doom Rudolpho was leading a revolt into the castle. The
see if he could cure the Amphibians. On Hydrobase, Shroud still believed that Doom was dead at this time.
Doom surreptitiously contacted Boris and confirmed that They fought their way to the throne room, only to be
everything was going according to preset plans. Plan greeted by the Red Skull. Rudolpho was shot in the
Gamma was in place. chest and critically wounded by the Skull's blas~er.

Opponents Assembled Captain America and Dr. Doom flew to Latvena and .
were immediately subjected to Doom's own defenses, his
Attuma had long planned to use the Avengers as decoys Rainbow missile shrinking them down to the size of mice
against the Sub-Mariner. The biologically reconstructed (the actual fate that Doom once visited upon th~ Skull by
Atlantean called Tyrak defeated all the Avengers, save hypnosis). Namor returned to the castle to see 1f Doom
the Beast. Using slave collars to ensure their was actually dead and encountered the Red Skull. They
fought briefly outside and then the Skull teleported then
cooperation, Attuma sent the Avengers against to the throne room, where the Shroud was being held as
Hydrobase to overwhelm the Sub-Mariner. Instead of a prisoner. By this time, Doom and Captain_Americ~ h.ad
finding Namor, however, they encountered Dr. Doom, made it to a vent inside the throne room , still at their tiny
who easily captured and imprisoned the weakened team . size. The Shroud informed Namor of the hypno-ray, a
weapon the Skull was planning to use on the world, to try
The Beast recruited the Whizzer and Wonder Man to and keep Namor from allying himself with the Nazi.
help him. The Sub-Mariner was tricked into fighting these Doom left his concealment to attack the Skull, as Doom
three Avengers and lost to them , thanks to the strength realized the Skull would not allow Namor to live with the
of Wonder Man. Due to his defeat, the Sub-Mariner never knowledge of the hypno-ray plan.
found Doom alive at this time.

44

During the ensuing battle, Namor restored Doom and During the preliminary confrontation, the Rider showed
Captain America to their real sizes. Outnumbered, the Doom that, since he stopped his mystical studies to
Skull retreated behind the throne's force field, planning pursue science, he had much untapped magical power
to take over the world by using the Hypno-ray from a within him. The Rider wanted that power and began
satellite. In a last desperate act, Rudolpho tried to leeching it from Doom; in addition to the power taken
teleport the Skull away to prevent his hideous plan, but from the Scarlet Witch, the Dark Rider grew in stature
the teleportation put the Skull on the moon at his own and might. Despite his powerful armor, Doom also fell to
base, where he could activate the Hypno-ray. the Rider.

Doom and the Shroud teamed up to stop the Red Moondragon, a temporary Avenger at the time, was
Skull, the Shroud planning to disable the ray while Doom brought back to the past by the final vestiges of Wanda's
took care of the Skull at the moon base. Doom and the spell-enforced hex, and held off the Dark Rider with her
Skull battled on the Moon 's surface, Victor defeating the mind powers while the rest of the charact~rs esc~pe~ .
Nazi and leaving him pinned on the Moon under a rock For the first time in ages, Doom worked his mystic might
slide. The Shroud stopped the hypno-ray, but not before
he was blasted by its full power himself. He was found against the Rider, staggering him with its force. Working
adrift in space in a coma by Captain America. together, Doom's and the Witch's magics and the heroes'
physical powers defeated the Dark Rider and Cotton
To fulfill his vow to cure the sick Atlanteans, Doom Mather. Leaving the time period with time circuitry in his
accompanied Namor to Atlantis. Warlord Krang had armor, Doom left this group to ponder on this encounter
taken over the city, but Doom cured the paralyzed and the chance alliance with his normal foes.
citizens, and Krang was defeated. After this encounter,
Doom realized the difference between him and Namor.
Although much alike, Doom's strength was derived from
an iron will while Namor's strength flowed from the love
of his people. Doom reliquinshed his hold on Namor and
abandoned their partnership once again.

Witchcraft Old and New
No matter how well constructed or powerful a defense
system, there are always powers to surpass them. Under
the influence of powerful magic, the Scarlet Witch flew to
Latveria and entered the Citadel of Doom. Meeting a
villain named Cotton Mather, she cast a magically altered
hex bolt that alerted Spider-Man and the Vision to her
plight before he knocked her unconscious. Spider-M~n
and the Vision later managed to follow the Scarlet Witch
and Mather to the year 1692 and the Salem witch trials in
Massachusetts.

The heroes were downed by Salem residents and the
magic wielded by Cotton Mather. They escaped the jail
but then faced the true power behind the maddened
Cotton Mather-the Dark Rider. Dr. Doom arrived after
the heroes' defeat, drawn there as much by the Rider's
power as by the brazen use of his time platform.

45

Doom does not always face his opponents openly, work he began or that his teammates would be killed. All
sometimes choosing to remain in shadows behind the the teammates were shackled with powerbands that sent
shadows and constantly testing himself and those
around him to prove his 'superiority.' Working with the a powerful shock through them every time they tried to
Prime Mover, his game-playing strategic computer, Doom use their powers. They were imprisoned in a dungeon
manipulated friends and enemies of Shang Chi, the together where Reed told the team to bide their time.
Master of Kung Fu , as pieces in a game of chess. Doom
wanted to have a contest with the deadly Fu Manchu, but The next day, the supervisor brought Richards into a
he settled for a match with the only person to defeat that secret chamber where a large solar-powered machine
opponent, the son of Fu Manchu. During the final gambit, covered with many mirrors was stored. When they
Shang-Chi fought a Doombot, learning who was behind entered the inner complex, the supervisor warned Reed
the robot attacks on him and his friends. While Shang that anyone looking at the mirrors with unshielded eyes
Chi recuperated in the hospital, Doom sent a box with his would go utterly insane. The supervisor went on , saying
chess pieces standing over the downed pieces of that with the power generated by this machine, he could
Shang-Chi's friends, letting him know that Doom produce enough power to energize America forever. As
considered himself the winner of the match. he continued, he stated that they had much to say to
each other, including how they would get Reed's
The Son of Doom stretching power back.
Tiring of failed alliances and fruitless ventures, Dr. Doom
spent months to bring one of his most ingenious and Meanwhile, in the dungeon, Sue had found a way to
long-running revenge schemes to fruition. When the escape her prison and, after freeing the others, started
Fantastic Four broke up, yet again , Doom seized the fighting their way through waves of servo-guards. They
opportunity to implement his plan to humiliate his finally broke into the inner sanctum and were so
long-time foes. Doom set up a company called Cythian surprised by who they found there that a simple dose of
Associates, who offered Reed Richards $20,000 a week sleeping gas knocked them all out. Dr. Doom had
for his scientific talents. Reed accepted the offer, not captured the Fantastic Four once again.
knowing the sinister purpose behind it. However, he
became suspicious of the project as the product he was Richards, still in the dark about who was behind this
working on had very few and limited uses. affair, went along with the supervisor's plans to bring his
powers back. From the Cynthian Associates research
During his sleep, Reed was captured and subjected to facility in upstate New York, Reed Richards blasted off in
intense treatments in a hypno-persuader by a Cynthian a rocket, planning to duplicate the cosmic ray accident
Associates supervisor and a man named Hauptmann, that gave him his powers. The cosmic rays affected him
the brother of the Nazi killed earlier in Doom 's career. as they did before (his powers were actually increased
The hidden room with this hypnotic device also from their former levels), but they also reintegrated the
contained a suit of Psycho-Man's armor, about which Red Ghost, who was aboard the ship in gaseous form.
Hauptmann commented that the necessary components The two fought as their ship's orbit decayed. The Red
have been removed . The supervisor gloated that Ghost, using his power of intangibility, escaped through
Operation: Coronation had begun. the hull of the ship. Reed encased himself in a small
metal cannister that was ejected at the last second
The rest of the Fantastic Four were captured by before the ship exploded.
someone looking like their old foe, the Invincible Man.
They were transported to upstate New York where it was Meanwhile, the rest of the Fantastic Four had been
revealed to them that the Invincible Man was a transported to Latveria where they were imprisoned in
hypnotized Reed Richards. The supervisor of the
Cynthian Associates told Reed that he was to finish the another dungeon. When Doom visited them, he brought
in Alicia Masters, the blind sculptress and Ben Grimm's
girlfriend, to sculpt his royal statue. She could not see
the hideous face beneath Doom's mask and was ordered
to sculpt the face she could feel beneath the scars.

46

While in the dungeons, Doom revealed to the FF that, and for them to wait for the coronation when all would be
by the laws of Latveria, he had to abdicate the throne to explained. He vowed that all would see that Doom would
someone, and Doom introduced his son as his
no longer be in power. This calmed the crowd down long
successor. As he and his captives watched Reed's enough for Doom to leave the window.
spacecraft, he gloated over his manipulation of the four
and their final defeat. When the orbit decayed and Back in the Transferral room, an elastic fist broke out
Richards' survival seemed doubtful, Dr. Doom raged of the globe that was holding Mr. Fantastic. He quickly
against this change in plans; when the ship exploded, shut down the machine and freed his teammates. He
Doom and Reed's teammates, who were watching the explained that as soon as he realized who his enemy
event, believed him dead in the explosion . was, he placed a micro-feedback circuit in his belt to
counter anything mechanical Doom used against him.
After a quick rescue by Nick Fury, Reed used the FF's
Pogo Plane to get himself over to Europe. He snuck into The Fantastic Four fought their way through waves of
Latveria, intent upon stopping the menace of Dr. Doom robot guards until they found Doom with a defenseless
forever. Through a mishap with one of Doom 's border Alicia Masters in his clutches. Using her as a hostage,
guard robots, Reed was temporarily injured. He was Doom had the FF surrender. The Fantastic Four was put
rescued by members of the well-hidden Latverian in a cell with a crystalline ball that watched their every
Freedom Fighters. Reed met Zorba, the leader of the move, any actions from them resulting in harm to Alicia.
freedom fighters and brother to the late Prince Rudolfo, Zorba broke into the castle as the coronation ceremony
and learned that Doom had a son lined up to take over began. Zorba was able to cut the power to the monitoring
the throne from him. crystal and freed the FF.

Outside the castle, Reed , Zorba, and a contingent of At the coronation, Doom set much importance to the
freedom fighters began their assault against Castle passing of the Royal Crown and Scepter to his
Doom. They fought their way into a lab, where they found
Hauptmann. There, Zorba revealed that the previous successor. The FF and Zorba interrupted the coronation
Hauptmann had blinded him in one eye in an experiment as Doom transferred the crown to his " son." Zorba told
for Doom , replacing it with a garish mechanism that fired Doom to tell the truth- his son was really his clone!
energy blasts. Capturing Hauptmann, Reed used his Doom set robots against the Fantastic Four and Zorba.
stretching powers to disguise himself as Hauptmann.
As the fight continued, Doom's clone mutated into a
During the assault, Doom placed the three captured man-shaped version of the Thing, his skin becoming an
members of the Fantastic Four into a power transference orange hide. When Richards stopped the machine, it had
machine designed to give Doom's son the powers of his already transferred some of the FF's powers to the clone.
hated foes. He despaired over losing the chance to Doom ordered it to use its powers to attack the people
who caused this. The clone said the powers did more
defeat Reed Richards for the last time and began than strengthen him , they made him see Doom as he
preparation for the power transfer. Reed approached truly was and the sight sickened him. He, the clone, was
Doom disguised as Hauptmann. After a few moments, the Victor Von Doom before the college accident that
made him mad . The two Victors fought, the clone
Dr. Doom saw through the facade and knocked Reed
unconscious with gas. Now his son would have all the insisting that Doom recognize that he had lost his
powers of the quartet of American heroes. humanity. Doom, in his fury to silence his clone, killed
him and quickly downed the FF as well.
Doom went to deal with the unruly crowds outside the

castle. Unable to successfully penetrate Castle Doom,
Zorba and his freedom fighters were stirring up the
crowds there. Zorba was about to reveal something
about Doom 's son when Dr. Doom sent a blast into the

crowds. He quickly asked for the people's forgiveness

47

The work of years in ruins, Dr. Doom succumbed to his Confronting each other, Doom and Reed battled
formidable temper, seemingly mad . In a fit of rage and one-on-one and when Mr. Fantastic was dazed for a
moment, Dr. Doom placed him into the Murder Room, a
despair, Doom took his clone's body to be buried. He room loaded with death traps. Doom left his foe there
locked the Fantastic Four in a room and electrified the fighting for his life, and prepared a device held within the
only exit, the door. The crowds, after the coronation statue that had been delivered to the UN. Mr. Fantastic,
fiasco, pressed Doom to hand over his throne, but Doom having escaped Doom 's trap, affixed a device on his
was beyond any sort of rational thought. He activated the foe's armor that short circuited most of its electronic
Vortex Machine which duplicated the effects of a tornado control systems before he could throw the switch.
and sent it down into the square, attacking his own
subjects. Doom gathered his statue and boarded a plane

heading for the UN in New York.
The heroes escaped and, with Zorba, they found

Doom 's plan for world domination. The Fantastic Four
sped to the US in pursuit of Doom . Mr. Fantastic ejected
from the plane over Doom's Cythian Associates lab,
sending the team on to the United Nations.